Kevin OLeary, Wife Sued in Deadly Boat Crash

TORONTO—A fatal boat crash on an Ontario lake this summer has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit against celebrity businessman Kevin OLeary and his wife Linda OLeary, who was driving their vessel.

In an untested and unproven statement of claim, relatives of a Susanne Brito—one of two people who died in the collision—seek $2 million in damages from the OLearys as well as from the driver and owner of the second boat.

The crash occurred on Lake Joseph in Seguin, Ont., late one night in August when the OLearys boat, with Brito aboard, collided with one driven by Richard Ruh, 57, of Orchard Park, N.Y.

A Florida accountant, Gary Poltash, 64, who was on Ruhs boat, died at the scene. Brito, 48, a woman from Uxbridge, Ont., was critically injured and died in hospital.

“Suddenly and without warning, the OLeary power boat violently struck the Ruh power boat, causing Susanne Brito to suffer serious personal injuries, resulting in her death,” the claim states.

The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Oshawa, Ont., argues Britos death was the result of negligence.

Among other things, it argues Kevin OLeary, 65, of Toronto, knew or should have known that his 56−year−old wife was “incapable of operating the power boat with due care and attention” but let her drive anyway even though she had a propensity for speeding and had no licence.

“He negligently entrusted his power boat to the defendant, Linda OLeary, when he knew, or ought to have known, that she was an inexperienced and unsafe driver,” the claim states.

The claim also asserts Linda OLeary failed to keep a proper lookout, was driving too fast, and failed to heed the horn of the Ruh boat, owned by Irv Edwards, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., who is also a defendant.

“She suddenly and without warning drove the OLeary power boat directly into the path of the Ruh power boat,” the claim asserts.

Police charged Linda OLeary, who broke her foot in the crash, with careless operation of a vessel. She could not immediately be reached for comment. Her lawyer, Brian Greenspan, has previously said she was driving at a reasonable speed.

The lawsuit similarly argues KeRead More – Source