The South Carolina Court of Appeals has unanimously affirmed a $20.73 million jury verdict in Abel v. Lack's Beach Service, a landmark case that has already changed beach safety practices in Myrtle Beach and beyond. On July 16, 2025, the appellate court rejected all of the defendant's appeals, upholding the jury's finding that Lack's Beach Service's dangerous dual-role lifeguarding practices, understaffing, inadequate training, and negligence directly caused the drowning death of Zerihun Wolde.
A Tragedy That Should Never Have Happened
On August 24, 2018, Zerihun Wolde went to Myrtle Beach with his fiancée Meswaet Abel and their four children for what should have been a joyful family vacation. Instead, it became an unimaginable tragedy. While playing in the water with his two oldest children, Wolde was caught in a rip current. For 10-15 agonizing minutes, he and his daughter Wubit fought for their lives, repeatedly calling for help while lifeguards remained oblivious to the emergency unfolding before them.
The lifeguard at the nearest stand (L-21) was on lunch break, leaving that section of beach unmanned. The lifeguard at stand L-22 was seen sitting with his back to the ocean, talking to customers about umbrella rentals. No professionally trained lifeguard ever entered the water to help. Instead, it was brave bystanders who heard the family's cries for help and risked their own lives to attempt a rescue.
By the time good Samaritans pulled Zerihun from the water, it was too late. He died from drowning, leaving behind a devastated family and unanswered questions about how such a preventable tragedy could occur on a beach with supposedly professional lifeguard coverage.
The Courage to Fight for Truth and Change![SC beach safety]()
Our clients, Meswaet Abel and her four children, could have taken an early settlement and quietly moved on with their lives. Instead, they chose the difficult path of holding Lack's Beach Service, The City of Myrtle Beach and the insurance companies involved accountable through a full trial. This decision required immense courage – courage to relive the trauma, courage to face aggressive defense tactics, and courage to risk everything on the belief that the truth would prevail.
In seven years since this tragedy, our clients have not collected a single dollar while fighting for justice. They endured years of litigation, depositions, and legal proceedings, all while grieving the loss of their beloved father and fiancé. Yet they never wavered in their commitment to ensuring that no other family would suffer the same preventable loss.
These are simply the most courageous people I have ever met in my legal career. Their strength and determination in the face of unimaginable loss has been nothing short of inspiring.
Exposing Dangerous Industry Practices
The evidence revealed at trial was shocking. Lack's Beach Service operated what they called a "dual-role" system, where lifeguards were required to sell beach equipment and clean the beach while simultaneously watching for drowning victims. The company's own records from a 2002 workers' compensation case showed that lifeguards spent 99.995% of their time on commercial activities and only 0.0047% on actual lifeguarding duties.
Even more disturbing, the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) had specifically warned Lack's in 1996 that this dual-role practice violated national safety standards. When USLA discovered in 2007 that Lack's was still having lifeguards sell merchandise while on duty, they revoked the company's certification. Yet Lack's continued these dangerous practices for over a decade after being put on notice.
The jury heard testimony that on the day of the drowning:
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Lack's was understaffed, with only three "lifeguard-only" personnel covering more than two miles of beach
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The lifeguards involved had missed required training sessions
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No documentation existed proving the lifeguards had completed mandatory 40-hour training requirements
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The company received a rip current warning at 10 AM but failed to warn beachgoers or close dangerous sections
A Verdict That Changes Everything
The jury's $20.73 million verdict sent a clear message: putting profits over public safety will not be tolerated. The award included:
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$10 million in wrongful death damages
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$3.73 million for conscious pain and suffering
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$7 million in punitive damages
The Court of Appeals unanimously upheld every aspect of this verdict, finding that the evidence clearly supported the jury's conclusion that Lack's acted with reckless disregard for public safety.
Real Change Saves Lives
The most important victory in this case isn't the monetary award – it's the lives that will be saved through the changes our clients' courage has brought about. As a direct result of this $20.73 million verdict, the City of Myrtle Beach has completely changed its beach safety practices and now specifically prohibits any form of dual-role lifeguarding.
This means that lifeguards in Myrtle Beach can now focus 100% of their attention on what matters most: watching the water and saving lives. No longer will families have to worry that their lifeguard is distracted by selling umbrellas or cleaning the beach when an emergency strikes.
The Fight Continues
Despite the overwhelming evidence and unanimous appellate court decision, the insurance company and Lack's Beach Service are now attempting to have the South Carolina Court of Appeals reconsider their decision.
For seven years, our clients have waited patiently for justice while facing every legal challenge thrown at them. They have shown remarkable grace and strength throughout this ordeal, never losing sight of their true goal: ensuring that their tragic loss leads to changes that will protect other families.
A Message of Hope
The unanimous decision by the South Carolina Court of Appeals in Abel v. Lack's Beach Service proves that justice can prevail, even against well-funded corporate defendants and their insurance companies. Our clients' fight continues, but their victory is already being felt on beaches throughout South Carolina and beyond. That is the true measure of justice – not just holding wrongdoers accountable but creating lasting change that protects future generations.
