The families of three South Carolina teenagers who drowned after their sailboat slammed into several Charleston Harbor jetties were recently awarded $21 million. The accident, which occurred in December 1997, killed Michael Cornett, 49, his two sons, Michael Paul, 16, and Daniel, 13 and their 14-year-old cousin, Bobby Lee Hurd.

Plaintiff attorneys successfully argued that the Coast Guard failed to conduct a search and rescue mission in a timely manner. Although Daniel Cornett radioed a Mayday shortly after the collision, the Coast Guard did not receive a reply when they returned the call and decided against starting a search. Hours later a harbor pilot reported hearing screams coming from the water but a rescue operation was delayed until some time later.

Last year U.S. District Court Judge David Norton ruled in favor of the boys' families. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his decision last week.