The plaintiff was survived by her parents, worked as a laboratory research assistant earning $38,000 annually. Her estate claimed $357,000 in lost earnings.

Her parents, on behalf of her estate, sued the city that owned and operated the pool. Plaintiffs alleged the swimming instructor failed to follow the pool operations manual and notify the lifeguard that this swimming lesson student was in the pool, and the lifeguard failed to follow universal lifeguarding techniques by scanning the pool every 10 seconds and making contact with any victim in 20 seconds, known as the “10/20 rule.” Defendant contended that the swimmer was comparatively negligent. The parties settled before trial for $350,000.

Plaintiffs’ and Defense counsel both retained experts in the following areas in order to present this tragic case in court: medical aspects of drowning process, aquatics safety and lifeguarding techniques, and economics. The case is: Green v. City of Tukwila, Wash., King Co. Super., No. 07-2-20340-1 KNT, July 14, 2008.