Carrabassett Valley, ME – A former Delaware state senator, the most seriously injured of the 10 riders who fell to the ground when Sugarloaf’s Spillway East chairlift derailed in December 2010, has filed a lawsuit against the Maine ski resort.

Michael Katz, who was riding the lift with his two daughters, ages 11 and 13, suffered a broken back and a traumatic brain injury in the incident, according to his attorney, Benjamin Gideon of the law firm of Berman & Simmons of Lewiston, Me. When settlement negotiations to resolve Katz’ claims reached an impasse the lawsuit was filed to preserve the statute of limitations on his claim, that if allowed to expire would have barred him from recovery against the resort.

Sugarloaf has reportedly reached a settlement with all of the other claimants injured in the incident, including Katz’s daughters who sustained back and head injuries. They were riding in the chair immediately behind their father’s. Katz and his family own a home near the base of Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley.

Also named as defendants are as Sugarloaf owner CNL Lifestyles Properties, two Delaware-based asset companies, and resort operator Boyne USA.

High winds at Sugarloaf on December 28, 2010 caused the lift’s cable to derail from tower sheaves during the busy Christmas-New Year’s holiday period at the resort, sending five occupied lift chairs plummeting 35 feet to the ground. Sugarloaf officials admitted to making adjustments to the sheave’s position just prior to the mishap. The lift reopened to skiers in February 2011 and was replaced in December of that year with a new $3 million quad.