Former Miss America suing Goodtime

10/9/2017 5:30 PM

ERIE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

In this 2015 photo, Jackie (Mayer) Townsend, who became Miss America in 1963, waves to the crowd gathered at the red carpet premier of the Gore Orphanage movie at the Sandusky State Theatre. She recently filed a lawsuit against the Goodtime I for sustaining injuries detrimental to her physical and mental well-being. -- Register file photo

Andy Ouriel Staff Reporter

SANDUSKY — A former Miss America and a Sandusky native filed a lawsuit against a local boating company.

Legal documents submitted in Erie County Common Pleas Court earlier this year contend Jackie (Mayer) Townsend sustained “permanent injuries” as a passenger on the Goodtime I, also known as Lake Erie Island Cruises, in summer 2015.

The court filing, however, doesn’t specify those injuries or how she got hurt.

But, because of this, Townsend “suffered loss of earnings, incurred significant medical expenses and endures significant pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss or impairment of the enjoyment of life and loss or impairment of the ability to perform the usual activities in life, both basic and hedonic, all of which, more likely than not, will continue in the future,” according to the lawsuit.

In this 2015 photo, Jackie (Mayer) Townsend, who became Miss America in 1963, waves to the crowd gathered at the red carpet premier of the Gore Orphanage movie at the Sandusky State Theatre. She recently filed a lawsuit against the Goodtime I for sustaining injuries detrimental to her physical and mental well-being.

Her lawsuit also underscores how the Goodtime boat “was unseaworthy” and employees either “knew or should have known the dangerous conditions existing on the premises and negligently failed to act to remove said conditions.”

She seeks an amount exceeding $25,000 plus attorney fees and other costs in this matter.

Attorneys representing both sides will soon meet to set a trial date.

Townsend won the Miss America pageant in 1963. Today she travels across the country as a motivational speaker and assists stroke survivors and their families. Townsend suffered a stroke herself several decades ago.

Goodtime owner Joe Lamb opted against providing a comment for this news story. Townsend, meanwhile, didn’t return a message left on her cellphone.

Sandusky native Jackie (Mayer) Townsend won the 1963 Miss America pageant.

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201710090021