Why Florida Juries Rarely Convict Boat Operators in Fatal Crashes

A Miami jury acquitted real estate executive George Pino of vessel homicide in a 2022 Biscayne Bay crash that killed a 17-year-old. The verdict reflects a persistent problem: Florida juries struggle to meet the legal bar for culpable negligence—reckless conduct causing death—even when the operator's behavior seems clearly reckless. Fatal boating accidents rarely lead to convictions absent extreme intoxication or documented evidence of dangerous acts. Florida's boating death rate ranks among America's highest.