Camp Mystic Pushes to Move Deadly Flash Flood Lawsuits to Kerr County

Attorneys for Camp Mystic are asking a judge to transfer four wrongful death lawsuits stemming from the July 4 flash flood that killed 25 children and two counselors from Travis County to Kerr County, where the camp is located, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

The defense says Kerr County is the appropriate venue because all relevant events occurred there and most potential witnesses, including camp staff and local officials, reside locally. Motions were filed Friday in state district court.

“All relevant events in this lawsuit took place in Kerr County. Potential witnesses include camp staff members who reside in Kerr County and local Kerr County officials,” the lawyers wrote, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News.

Camp Mystic’s attorneys said a jury may need to visit the property to understand the terrain, building elevations, and its proximity to the Guadalupe River. They also described the July 4 storm as unprecedented, calling it beyond a 1,000-year flood event.

Allegations of Negligence

Families of the victims filed the lawsuits in November, claiming camp leadership ignored early warnings and instructed campers and counselors to shelter in place instead of evacuating. Camp Mystic’s lawyers counter that staff responded as quickly as possible once the flood’s severity became apparent.

Richard G. “Dick” Eastland, co-owner and co-executive director, died trying to rescue campers. His widow, Willetta “Tweety” Eastland, and their son Edward Eastland and daughter-in-law Mary Liz Eastland are also named in the lawsuits.

Plaintiffs argue the case should remain in Travis County because Tweety Eastland lives in Austin and two business entities listed in the suits have Austin addresses. The defense says those entities are estate-planning holding companies with no role in camp operations and that all family members lived at the camp during the flood.

Deadly Flood Impact

The flash flood pushed the Guadalupe River to record levels, killing 119 people in Kerr County and at least 136 across Central and South Texas. To this day, one camper, 8-year-old Cile Steward of Austin, remains missing.

No ruling has been issued on the venue change request.