On Dec. 13, Diana Rivers and her 10-year-old son, both of Redwood City, filed suit against Mavericks Surf Ventures, LLC, Evolve Sport Management, LLC, and contest founder Jeff Clark. The two plaintiffs were struck by falling rocks on Feb. 7 as they stood watching the contest under cliffs near Pillar Point Air Force Station.
The mother and son allege that the contest organizers were negligent in managing a safe environment for spectators to view the Princeton spectacle.
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The suit alleges that the organizers "carelessly conducted the said surfing competition so as to allow thousands of spectators" while failing to warn visitors of the hazards.
The complaint requests compensation for both Rivers' and her son's medical bills, Rivers' loss of earnings during her recovery, her son's emotional distress and the costs of the lawsuit itself. The damages, though undisclosed, are more than $25,000, according to the complaint.
The plantiffs' attorney, Charles Hawkins of San Jose, did not return the Review's phone calls.
The February contest drew a record number of visitors, sometimes estimated at 50,000 coming to the town of 500, putting significant stress on the surrounding cliffs.
After the rockslide, Rivers, who was 39 at the time, was airlifted to Stanford Hospital where she was treated for serious head injuries. Her son was also treated there for back pain. Additionally, an unidentified 56-year-old man received lacerations to the forehead from falling rocks. He refused treatment.
Keir Beadling, speaking for Mavericks Surf Ventures, said he had not yet seen the complaint.
"We feel for the Rivers family and it was a terrible accident," he said. "But we've always regarded safety issues with the utmost importance. All managers have taken and will be taking all measures necessary to provide a safe contest for surfers and visitors."
Jeff Clark told the Review that he did not witness the incident. He said he was out surfing at the time that it happened.
Regardless of who may have been at fault, officials seem to agree that further safety precautions should be taken for next year's competition.
This year, public agencies are considering closing Princeton streets to all but local traffic along with limiting access to the cliffs.
Mavericks' organizers will also be encouraging surf fans to steer clear of the coast and watch the event from AT&T Park in San Francisco, where it will be broadcast live.
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