Student's Snorkeling Death Lawsuit, Road Rage Firearm Charge and 12-Year Sentence in Bike Thefts

by Greg Hambrick

A Falls Church family has filed a civil lawsuit following their daughter's 2012 death during a Semester at Sea program in the Caribbean.

Casey Schulman, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student at the time, died last Decemberin Dominica. She was struck by the propeller of a catamaran during a snorkeling excursion.

Seeking funeral costs and other monetary relief, the civil complaint was filed in federal court in Miami against the Institute of Shipboard Education d/b/a Semester at Sea, Anchorage Hotel LTD, Global Citizens Travel, LLC, and Fountaine-Pajot S.A. 

Also, October is Fire Prevention Month. There are two fire incidents — a mulch fire and a candle fire — included in our daily digest of news of note from around our Patches in Virginia and Washington, DC. See more below.

• Fire Department Responds to Mulch Fire in Franconia
• Man Charged with Assault on Police Officers, Drunk in Public
• Falls Church Family Files Lawsuit in Death of Daughter in Caribbean Boating Accident
• Wife of Libertarian Candidate for Governor Makes Video Plea to Include Him in Debate
• SPANX Hosts 'Booty Bash' At Tysons Corner Center
• Road Rage Incident Leads to Arrest for 'Brandishing a Firearm'
• Arlington Board Sets Limits on How Long Dogs Can Be Tied Up
• Arlington Bike Thief Sentenced to 12 Years
• Woman Struck in the Head With Pipe During Robbery
• Developer Offering $500K in Proffers to Reston Association for Piece of Lake Anne Land
• Mel Bergheim: 'A True Democratic Statesman'
• Candle Causes Serious Townhouse Fire, Displaces 3 in Fairfax
• Herndon High Football Player Sets Record, Featured in Magazine
• NOVA-Annandale Student Sexually Assaulted on Campus
• Burke Students Selected for 2013 Virginia Honors Choir