Court: Pier victims can sue - al.com

Court: Pier victims can sue - al.com: "The Alabama Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that those injured in 2007 when their boat crashed into the remnants of the destroyed Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores can sue state officials for damages.

All nine justices of the state's high court denied the defense motion for dismissal — based on a state law giving immunity to state officials — because the suit is against the defendants as individuals, not them acting in their official capacities.

Five people were injured Nov. 1, 2007, when their 23-foot boat hit unlit pilings left exposed when Hurricane Ivan damaged the Alabama Gulf State Park pier in 2004, according to plaintiffs' attorney Richard Taylor."