Judge to rule whether Paradise hunting guide can sue Boy Scouts after reckless shooting accident

Credit: Serggn/iStockphoto.com.

LOGAN — A judge will now decide whether a Paradise man can sue a group of Boy Scouts he was leading on a hunting trip in 2014, when he was shot in the eye. Craig Bingham filed a lawsuit last year claiming he was blinded in the left eye by birdshot, after the nine people he was leading opened fire on pheasants at a private hunting reserve.

Bingham appeared in 1st District Court Thursday morning. He is suing for damages, claiming the group failed to exercise reasonable care in the handling of their firearms and hunt in a safe manner.

In March 2014, Bingham was working as a hunting guide for Sportsman’s Paradise. He was standing on a small hill, behind the group when a number of pheasants were flushed from cover. As the birds took off, the hunters began firing their shotguns in different directions. He was struck by three pellets, in the left eye, hand and thigh.

During Thursday’s hearing, defense attorneys said what happened to Bingham was a terrible accident, but there is no evidence of who fired the shot that hit the plaintiff. They also explained to the court, the defendant, who was supposed to be the professional guide, did not follow all of the rules, including wearing safety glasses. He also gave very little safety instructions to the boys and put himself in a position to possibly be harmed.

The plaintiff’s attorney argued, it was obvious that someone in the scout group shot his client. He explained a jury should be presented with all of the evidence, to determine who was responsible.

The nine hunters were from a Boy Scout Crew in Huntsville.

Judge Thomas Willmore said he would consider all of the evidence and testimony, before issuing a ruling within the next 60-days.

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