Dad blames phone for kid stranded at sea

I mentioned this story in April, and I am following up only because the parents are blaming it all on the phone company:

The family that drew national attention when they were rescued at sea off their sailboat, Rebel Heart, in April is finally setting the record straight.

Charlotte and Eric Kaufman and their two daughters were about 1,000 miles west of Cabo San Lucas in the Sea of Cortez when 1-year old Lyra became sick. That was when their adventure of a lifetime turned into a nightmare.

It began with a fever, then a rash and then Lyra became lethargic. That was when the couple used their satellite cell phone to call a doctor. ...

Kaufman noticed the phone was showing a SIM card error. He tried everything to restart the phone. He soon realized they were "in a really dangerous spot."

He said he had no choice but to activate the sailboat's emergency beacon. ...

The couple will file a civil lawsuit against the satellite phone provider later this week. Attorney Dan Gilleon says they should not only compensate the Kaufmans for their loss, but should also re-pay the federal government for the expensive military rescue at sea.

"The at-fault party here was that satellite phone company," Gilleon said. "The Kaufmans did everything they were supposed to have done."

In spite of what happened, the Kaufmans say they plan to travel the world with their kids again, as soon as they get a new sailboat.

From what little I know about the law, it seems likely to me that the phone company disclaimed consequential damages. The lawsuit may just be a way to deflect the blame.