Camp Mystic Lawsuit Latest Update, 4 Lawsuits Filed After 27 Deaths—Families Demand $1M+ as Evidence Shows Equipment Evacuated Before Girls
Four separate lawsuits were filed November 10, 2025 in Travis County District Court by families of 15 campers and two counselors who died when the Guadalupe River flooded Camp Mystic on July 4, 2025, killing 25 girls ages 8-9, two teenage counselors, and camp director Richard “Dick” Eastland. The lawsuits seek over $1 million each for gross negligence, alleging Camp Mystic spent 75 minutes evacuating equipment while ordering girls in flood-vulnerable cabins to remain inside despite life-threatening flash flood warnings starting at 1:14 a.m.
Families who lost children—including 8-year-old Eloise “Lulu” Peck, 9-year-old Ellen Getten, and 13 others named as plaintiffs—can file wrongful death claims against Camp Mystic, the Eastland family estate, and affiliated entities including Natural Fountains Properties Inc.
What Is the Camp Mystic Lawsuit About?
The Camp Mystic lawsuits allege that camp operators failed to evacuate despite multiple National Weather Service warnings, housed campers in cabins within known flood zones, lacked adequate evacuation plans despite state requirements, and prioritized saving camp equipment over children’s lives. The Guadalupe River rose from 14 feet to 29.5 feet within 60 minutes before dawn on July 4, 2025, sweeping through three cabins—Bubble Inn, Twins I, and Twins II—where the youngest campers were housed closest to the river.
One lawsuit filed by families of five campers and two counselors names victims Anna Margaret Bellows (8), Lila Bonner (9), Chloe Childress (18), Molly DeWitt (9), Katherine Ferruzzo (19), Lainey Landry (9), and Blakely McCrory (8). A second lawsuit represents six additional campers, while the Peck and Getten families filed separate individual suits.
The litigation marks the first wave of legal action since the catastrophic flooding killed over 136 people across Central Texas, with Camp Mystic accounting for 27 of those deaths—what grieving families now call “Heaven’s 27.”
What Critical Evidence Do Lawsuits Present?
Lawsuits allege that despite receiving National Weather Service warnings starting July 3 about “potential for significant rain and floods” and a 1:14 a.m. July 4 warning of “life-threatening flash flooding,” camp directors Richard and Edward Eastland spent approximately 75 minutes “working to keep camp equipment dry while they watched the river swell with flood waters” instead of evacuating campers.
A copy of Camp Mystic’s emergency instructions found in a counselor’s flooded trunk stated: “In case of flood, all campers on Senior Hill must stay in their cabins…Those on the flats must also stay in their cabins unless told otherwise by the office. All cabins are constructed on high, safe locations”. The lawsuits claim this statement “was patently false, misleading [and] created a false sense of safety.”
The lawsuits further allege that higher ground was within 20 yards of Bubble Inn cabin, and a two-story building was within 20 yards of Twins I and Twins II cabins—staff in that two-story building survived. Yet campers were ordered to stay in their cabins even as waters rose.
Photos from inside one cabin show “the water rose so close to the ceiling (5 ¾ inches) [that] the girls ran out of air space and were tragically swept into the raging flood waters”. Eight-year-old Lucy “did not make it out of the cabin where she lost her life.”
Who Can File a Camp Mystic Claim?
You may qualify to file a wrongful death or personal injury claim if:
- Your child attended Camp Mystic and died in the July 4, 2025 flooding
- Your child survived but sustained physical injuries, emotional trauma, or PTSD from the flood
- You are a family member of the two counselors who died (Chloe Childress, 18, and Katherine Ferruzzo, 19)
- Your child witnessed the deaths of other campers and suffers ongoing psychological harm
- You incurred funeral expenses, counseling costs, or medical bills related to the incident
- Your family member was present at Camp Mystic during the flooding and sustained any compensable harm
Texas law requires all youth camps to establish and comply with emergency response procedures under Texas Administrative Code Section 558.256, which mandates plans must provide reasonable protection in the event of a disaster. The lawsuits claim Camp Mystic failed this legal obligation.
Who Are the Defendants in Camp Mystic Lawsuits?
Defendants named across the four lawsuits include: Camp Mystic; Natural Fountains Properties Inc.; members of the Eastland family including George Albritton Eastland as representative of the estate of Richard Eastland (former Camp Mystic director who died in the flooding), Willetta Eastland, Edward Eastland, and Mary Liz Eastland.
The Ellen Getten family lawsuit names two additional defendants not listed in other suits: William Neely Bonner III and Seaborn Stacy Eastland.
Richard “Dick” Eastland co-owned Camp Mystic with his wife Tweety since 1974 as third-generation operators after his grandparents purchased the camp in 1939. He died attempting to rescue campers. Eastland warned for decades about hidden dangers of the Guadalupe River and successfully pushed for a new flood warning system after 10 children at a nearby camp were swept to their deaths in 1987.
What Legal Claims Are Being Made?
The four lawsuits filed November 10, 2025 allege:
Gross Negligence: Camp Mystic demonstrated “gross negligence” by “failing to implement modern safety measures or update its own flood protocols in light of known dangers” despite knowing camp facilities were located in a flood zone with a history of flash flooding.
Wrongful Death: All lawsuits seek wrongful death damages including mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, loss of companionship and society, funeral and burial expenses, and counseling costs.
Premises Liability: Lawsuits claim “the camp chose to house young girls in cabins sitting in flood-prone areas, despite the risk, to avoid the cost of relocating the cabins” and that Camp Mystic put “profit over safety”.
Failure to Warn: Despite receiving multiple National Weather Service warnings, camp operators allegedly failed to take protective action or warn campers of imminent danger.
Inadequate Emergency Planning: Camp Mystic’s implemented evacuation plan allegedly “prohibited” evacuation and required counselors to follow the plan “no matter the circumstances”, despite state law requiring evacuation procedures.
How Much Compensation Is Being Sought?
The first three lawsuits each seek more than $1 million in damages, while the fourth suit does not specify an exact amount but seeks monetary relief exceeding $1 million. Damages include compensation for conscious pain, mental anguish, funeral and counseling expenses, loss of companionship, and physical pain and suffering.
Legal experts analyzing similar youth camp disasters suggest actual settlement or verdict amounts could significantly exceed the statutory minimums, particularly given the allegations of gross negligence and the young ages of victims. Past wrongful death verdicts for child victims have ranged from $5 million to over $20 million when juries find gross negligence or reckless disregard for safety.
Legal experts project Camp Mystic lawsuits may take 12 to 36 months or longer, with delays potentially stemming from insurance disputes, expert investigations, and resistance from defendants. Pre-settlement funding is available for families facing immediate financial burdens from funeral costs, therapy, and related expenses.
Timeline of July 4 Tragedy and Legal Action
July 3, 2025: Camp Mystic began receiving alerts from the National Weather Service warning of “the potential for significant rain and floods”.
July 4, 2025, 1:14 a.m.: National Weather Service issued warning of “life-threatening flash flooding”.
July 4, 2025, 1:45 a.m.: Richard and Edward Eastland allegedly met in the main office approximately 30 minutes after the life-threatening flash flood warning.
July 4, 2025, Early Morning Hours: The Guadalupe River in Kerr County rose over 20 feet in just a few hours, overwhelming cabins and killing 27 people.
July 5, 2025: Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed “we’ve evacuated over 850 uninjured people, eight injured people and have recovered 27 deceased fatalities at this time. Of these 27, 18 are adults, nine are children” (note: these numbers included broader community deaths, with 25 campers and 2 counselors specifically from Camp Mystic).
November 10, 2025: Four separate lawsuits filed in Travis County District Court seeking more than $1 million each in damages.
November 2025 (Current): Lawsuits in discovery phase with families demanding jury trials and full accountability.
What Do the Lawsuits Reveal About Camp Mystic’s Response?
Lawsuits allege a groundskeeper was directed to spend more than an hour evacuating camp equipment while girls and counselors in cabins closest to the Guadalupe River were ordered to remain there, even as floodwaters overwhelmed the property. This prioritization of equipment over human life forms a central allegation across all four lawsuits.
One lawsuit describes the tragedy as a “self-created disaster” and alleges that “when it was too late, the Camp made a hopeless ‘rescue’ effort from its self-created disaster in which 25 campers, two counselors, and the Camp director died”.
Some girls climbed onto top bunks trying to keep their heads above rising flood water, feeling the current tug at their legs, while others spent their last panicked moments in darkness surrounded by cries and the roar of the river. Some campers piled into Richard Eastland’s Tahoe desperate to escape neck-deep water—his car was later found submerged, “smashed against a tree. All inside were killed.”
The lawsuits claim there was no plan to evacuate campers until 12 hours after a flash flood warning, by which time the tragedy was unavoidable.
Camp Mystic’s Defense Strategy
Camp Mystic legal counsel Jeff Ray stated in November 2025: “We intend to demonstrate and prove that this sudden surge of floodwaters far exceeded any previous flood in the area by several magnitudes, that it was unexpected and that no adequate warning systems existed in the area”.
Ray added that the camp “disagrees with several accusations and misinformation in the legal filings regarding the actions of Camp Mystic and Dick Eastland, who lost his life as well.”
Camp attorney Mikal Watts said many of the lawsuit’s claims and public perceptions about Camp Mystic were “categorically false” and that the camp’s leadership has “the utmost empathy for the parents and their loss”.
Camp Mystic’s official statement said: “We continue to pray for the grieving families and ask for God’s healing and comfort.”
The defense strategy appears to center on arguing the flood was unprecedented, unpredictable, and beyond what any reasonable warning systems could have detected—claims families vigorously dispute given documented warnings hours before the tragedy.
Why Families Are Outraged by Camp Mystic’s Reopening Plans
The lawsuits were filed as Camp Mystic drew renewed outrage from victims’ families over plans to partially reopen one of its sister sites next summer and continue evaluating plans to reopen the 100-year-old camp. Many camps along the Guadalupe River have announced they would reopen in 2026.
Parents said the reopening announcement was premature and that they were not consulted about construction of a memorial for their children the camp intended to build—one lawsuit described the memorial as the camp using the children as a “recruiting tool”.
Families stated in lawsuits: “And while their families struggle with their loss, the Camp’s actions since the tragedy have only deepened the pain”.
What Documents Do You Need to File a Claim?
Essential documentation for Camp Mystic wrongful death or injury claims:
- Camp Mystic enrollment and registration records showing your child attended
- Medical records documenting injuries or treatment for trauma
- Death certificates for wrongful death claims
- Funeral and burial expense receipts
- Counseling and therapy invoices for surviving family members or children
- Photographs or videos from the flooding event
- Communications with Camp Mystic before, during, or after the tragedy
- Insurance claim documentation
- Employment records showing lost wages from time spent grieving or dealing with aftermath
- Expert witness reports (your attorney will arrange these)
Your attorney will obtain National Weather Service warnings, camp inspection reports, emergency plan documents, and other evidence through legal discovery.
Similar Youth Camp Lawsuits Provide Context
In 1987, 10 children at a nearby Texas camp were swept to their deaths in flooding, prompting Richard Eastland to successfully push for new flood warning systems. The current litigation raises questions about whether those systems were adequate or properly utilized.
Similar wrongful death cases involving youth camps have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements when gross negligence is established. A 2021 North Carolina camp death resulted in a $7.5 million settlement. A 2018 Florida camp drowning case settled for $12 million. However, cases involving multiple victims and allegations of systemic safety failures typically result in higher individual compensation amounts.
The Camp Mystic litigation parallels the Boy Scouts of America abuse scandal litigation structure, where individual victims filed separate claims that were later coordinated for settlement purposes while preserving each family’s right to jury trial.
What Legal Experts Say About the Cases
Attorneys representing families believe the documented evidence—National Weather Service warnings, Camp Mystic’s written policy ordering children to stay in cabins during flooding, and allegations that equipment was evacuated before children—establishes a clear pattern of gross negligence.
Paul Yetter, attorney for one family group, stated: “Camp Mystic failed at its primary job to keep its campers and counselors safe, and young girls died as a result. This action is about transparency, responsibility and ensuring no other family experiences what these parents will now suffer the rest of their lives”.
Yetter Coleman, a Houston trial firm, filed the first lawsuit despite earlier claims that such suits would not survive legal challenges, suggesting attorneys have confidence in the strength of negligence allegations.
Legal experts note that Texas law generally protects recreational facilities from certain liability, but gross negligence exceptions allow lawsuits when conduct demonstrates conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of persons affected.
Legislative Response to Camp Mystic Tragedy
Camp Mystic parents were at the forefront of efforts during 2025 special legislative sessions to impose stricter regulations on summer camps, highlighting both state regulatory gaps and Camp Mystic’s flawed evacuation plan as points of failure. Texas Senate Bill 1 strengthened summer camp regulations to help prevent future tragedies.
The legislative push demonstrates families’ commitment to systemic reform beyond individual compensation, seeking to ensure no other parents lose children to preventable camp disasters.
FAQs About Camp Mystic Lawsuits
What is the Camp Mystic lawsuit about?
Four lawsuits filed November 10, 2025 allege gross negligence and wrongful death after 25 campers and 2 counselors died in July 4, 2025 flooding when Camp Mystic failed to evacuate despite flood warnings and instead prioritized saving equipment while ordering children to stay in vulnerable cabins.
Who can file a Camp Mystic claim?
Families who lost children or counselors in the flooding, parents of children who survived with physical or psychological injuries, and relatives who incurred funeral, medical, or counseling expenses can file wrongful death or personal injury claims.
How much compensation can families receive?
Each of the four lawsuits seeks over $1 million in damages for mental anguish, conscious pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship. Actual settlement or verdict amounts could exceed these minimums depending on jury determinations and negotiated settlements.
What is the filing deadline for Camp Mystic lawsuits?
Texas wrongful death claims must generally be filed within two years of the death. For the July 4, 2025 tragedy, the deadline would be July 4, 2027, though earlier filing is advisable to preserve evidence and testimony.
What evidence supports gross negligence claims?
National Weather Service warnings starting July 3 and a 1:14 a.m. “life-threatening” alert, Camp Mystic’s written policy ordering children to stay in cabins during floods, allegations that equipment was evacuated for 75 minutes before children, and evidence that higher ground was within 20 yards of vulnerable cabins.
Do I need a lawyer to file a Camp Mystic claim?
Yes. Wrongful death and gross negligence cases require extensive legal expertise, expert witnesses, discovery of camp records, and complex litigation strategy. Most attorneys representing Camp Mystic families work on contingency—no upfront costs, payment only if you win.
How long will Camp Mystic lawsuits take?
Legal experts estimate 12-36 months or longer depending on settlement negotiations, discovery processes, and whether cases proceed to trial. Pre-settlement funding is available for families facing immediate financial burdens.
Next Steps for Filing Your Claim
1. Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney Immediately: Multiple law firms are representing Camp Mystic families, including Yetter Coleman (Houston), firms already named in court filings, and personal injury attorneys experienced in wrongful death litigation.
2. Preserve All Documentation: Gather camp enrollment records, communications with Camp Mystic, medical records, funeral receipts, counseling invoices, and any photographs or videos from July 4, 2025.
3. Do Not Sign Settlement Releases: Camp Mystic or their insurers may approach families with early settlement offers requiring liability releases. Consult an attorney before signing anything.
4. Document Ongoing Harm: Keep records of therapy sessions, grief counseling, medical treatment for PTSD or depression, and how the tragedy has impacted your family’s daily life—these strengthen claims for emotional distress damages.
5. Consider Pre-Settlement Funding: If facing immediate financial hardship from funeral costs or lost income, pre-settlement funding provides cash advances repayable only if your case wins or settles.
6. Join Support Groups: Families refer to the victims as “Heaven’s 27” and have organized collectively to support legislative reform and share resources during litigation.
Legal Disclaimer: This article provides factual information about the Camp Mystic lawsuits based on publicly available court documents and news reports. It is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Case details are based on allegations and court filings, which may not represent final determinations. Filing deadlines and eligibility requirements may vary. For legal advice regarding your specific situation or claim, please consult with a qualified attorney.
For more information on youth safety and wrongful death litigation, see our coverage of school safety lawsuits, identity theft legal claims, and consumer protection cases.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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