Image – The Italian Sea Group
A rogue lawyer for The Italian Sea Group (TISG), the shipbuilder behind the doomed superyacht Bayesian, has filed a lawsuit against the widow of tech billionaire Mike Lynch, seeking nearly $250 million in damages.
The suit, filed by attorney Tommaso Bertuccelli, alleges that the yacht’s sinking, which killed Lynch and six others, caused significant reputational harm to the company.
TISG claims to have lost business, including a high-profile event cancellation by a well-known fashion brand. However, in a surprising turn, TISG quickly distanced itself from the lawsuit, stating that it did not authorise the claim and asking the lawyer to retract it. The company maintains that no official legal representative signed or approved the filing, calling into question the legitimacy of the lawsuit.
The tragedy occurred on August 19 when a severe storm allegedly struck the $40 million yacht off Sicily, leading to its sinking.
Along with Lynch, his daughter, and five others died, including prominent professionals from the US and UK. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was one of the survivors.
While the exact cause of the disaster is still under investigation, initial reports suggest a “downburst” wind may have contributed to the rapid sinking, but some experts believe human error or an open hatch may have played a role. Despite the mounting controversy, TISG insists it will not pursue damages against Bacares or the yacht’s crew, as legal and maritime inquiries continue.
Lawyers eh, can he explain her liability or was he just hoping for a settlement to drop the case.
Pushing sh*t uphill
But some chance is better than no chance