• Families of 15 victims from Camp Mystic flood sue the camp for gross negligence.
• Litigation accuses camp owners of ignoring flood risk and safety warnings.
• Victims' families claim lives were put at risk to protect the camp's financial interests.

The families of 15 victims, including five campers and two counselors who perished in the catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic on July 4, have filed a lawsuit against the camp, alleging gross negligence and a reckless disregard for safety. The suit highlights a history of flooding in the area and claims the camp's owners knew about the dangers, yet took no adequate measures to protect the campers, prioritizing property over safety, according to ABC News and The Hill.

The lawsuit was filed in District Court in Travis County, Texas, amidst increasing outrage over plans to reopen the camp next summer. According to the complaints, camp operators directed staff to secure equipment instead of evacuating campers when they were warned of imminent flooding. This negligence allegedly led to tragic losses as floodwaters rose unexpectedly and rapidly, as detailed in reports by Los Angeles Times and BBC.

The families are seeking over $1 million in damages, accusing the camp's owners of neglecting flood warnings and prioritizing financial interests over the safety of young campers. Specifically, the lawsuit states, "These young girls died because a for-profit camp put profit over safety," reflecting the sentiments shared by multiple families affected by the tragedy, as reported by The Hill and Los Angeles Times.

In response to the lawsuits, Camp Mystic has expressed empathy towards the victims' families, but firmly denies several allegations made against them. They contend that the flooding was unprecedented, with legal representatives claiming that no sufficient warning systems were in place. They aim to prove that the surge of floodwaters exceeded past occurrences by a significant degree, according to statements made by camp legal counsel and reported by ABC News and BBC.