Bombardier Recreational Products and the Grullon family have settled their lawsuit over toddler Vianca Grullon’s injuries in a 2024 Sea-Doo Switch capsizing, but no settlement amount has been disclosed. The $30 million figure was the family’s demand, not a reported settlement amount. Loose Cannon reported that the parties notified a judge in August 2026 and that the case is expected to be dismissed later this month, after a guardian ad litem examination intended to ensure Vianca’s interests are represented. Neither side commented on the terms, the report said.
The Jacksonville case
The lawsuit stems from an August 25, 2024, accident near Black Creek Marina. The family’s 13-foot Switch overturned while approaching a ramp on the St. Johns River, after its bow nosed into waves, Jacksonville Today reported. The family alleges that 15-month-old Vianca was trapped underwater and suffered catastrophic, permanent neurological injuries requiring round-the-clock care. Jacksonville Today reported that two county Fire Rescue lieutenants brought her to the surface and performed CPR.
The family’s suit alleges the Switch is unreasonably dangerous to use or occupy. BRP has said the vessel complies with American Boat & Yacht Council and U.S. Coast Guard regulations; its court filings blamed operator error, according to Jacksonville Today and Loose Cannon. Those are the parties’ positions, not findings in the case.
What the Coast Guard has documented
The case is part of a broader safety concern identified by the Coast Guard. In an October 16, 2025, alert, the agency said multiple Sea-Doo Switch capsizings since the model’s 2022 introduction had caused fatalities and severe injuries. It described incidents in which the vessel was trimmed toward the bow and the bow dug into the water; the alert did not give a specific total in its summary. The Coast Guard said weather and poor seamanship did not appear to be significant contributing factors in the cases it examined. The agency’s alert does not establish the cause of the Grullon accident.
The alert describes a possible hazard when the bow is low: water can enter the center hull while the boat is at rest and empties while the vessel is operating on a plane, while passenger weight or other conditions may keep the bow down before that water has drained. It warns that abrupt speed or direction changes, particularly slowing toward idle, can create forces capable of capsizing the vessel. The Coast Guard recommends shifting weight toward the stern and avoiding sudden changes at non-planing speeds, according to its safety alert.
Repairs and separate litigation
BRP’s updated recall notice says the current recall replaces earlier bulletins, applies even to watercraft repaired under those instructions and replaces the earlier sealant with three gaskets. A proposed class action separately alleges that BRP’s repair measures have not remedied an underlying design defect; that remains a claim, not a court finding. BRP’s recall notice and the class-action account describe the recall and the allegations.
A separate case followed a fatal 2025 capsizing on Maine’s Flagstaff Lake involving a Switch repaired under BRP recall guidance; the Coast Guard said it was evaluating the repair procedures. Family members of three people who died and two survivors have sued BRP and a Maine dealer, alleging wrongful death, negligence and other claims, the Bangor Daily News reported. That lawsuit and the proposed class action are separate from the Grullon settlement, and neither establishes what caused the Florida accident.
