The Verdict of George Pino: Who Was His Lawyer Howard Srebnick? Where is Katie Puig after fatal boat crash – latest update
one Miami– A Dade jury on Monday found George Pino guilty of second-degree manslaughter and vessel homicide in a Labor Day weekend boating collision that killed 17-year-old Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez and seriously injured Katy Puig.
Pino’s acquittal in the 2022 Biscayne Bay shipwreck sparked public interest in two people in the story: his high-profile attorney, Howard Srebnick, and Katerina “Katy” Puig, a survivor who suffered permanent injuries in the accident.
On September 4, 2022, Pino was piloting a 29-foot Robalo near Boca Chita Island during his daughter Carolina’s 18th birthday outing.
Authorities said the boat struck a channel sign in Biscayne Bay, causing passengers to fall overboard. Fernandez is dead. Puig, then 17, was left with permanent neurological and physical disabilities.
Prosecutors allege Pino was drinking and driving at an unsafe speed.
After the jury’s verdict in State of Florida v. George Pino, Srebnik said in a statement, “We thank the jury for carefully considering the evidence and reaching a fair verdict. From the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4, 2022, were a tragic accident, not a crime.”
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Who is Howard Srebnick?
Srebnik is a veteran Miami defense attorney with decades of experience litigating federal and state criminal cases. As co-chair of NACDL’s Attorney Assistance Strike Team, Howard currently defends attorneys who have been subpoenaed or sanctioned for their zealous advocacy.
Srebnick is one of Miami’s most prominent criminal defense attorneys and a long-time partner at Black Srebnick Law Firm. Over the years, he has represented high-profile defendants in South Florida and beyond, including in white collar, public corruption, and major felony cases.
according to his Company Profilewho is a founding partner of Black Srebnick. He is known in the South Florida legal community for taking on high-stakes trials and representing clients in cases that attract intense media attention. This reputation was evident during the Pinault trial
At Pino’s trial, he argued the accident was “a tragic accident” and stressed that Pino was not charged with boating under the influence. He also pointed to Pino’s traumatic brain injury and disputed prosecutors’ claims of reckless conduct.
In his final statement to the jury, he said, “The testimony given at trial – including unrebutted statements from witnesses who saw no signs of impairment – established that Mr. Pino was not under the influence, did not operate the boat recklessly, and that he did everything he could to protect his passengers after the accident.”
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Where is Katie Pugh now?
Katie Puig is still alive, but she has been living with the aftermath of the crash for nearly four years. CBS Miami’s court coverage has consistently described her injuries as permanent, life-changing.
According to the Miami Herald, the Puig family issued a statement after the acquittal saying, “We are deeply disappointed by today’s verdict, and our hearts go out to the families of Fernandez and Perez, who live with the unimaginable pain of losing Lucy every day. “
They added: “For nearly four years, our family has been living with the aftermath of that tragic day. We see Katie’s injuries every day. We see the challenges she continues to face, the strength she has shown in overcoming them, and the impact this tragedy has had on her life and the lives of those who loved her. No sentence can change these realities.”
Katie Puig, 21, will be permanently disabled after suffering a catastrophic brain injury in a boat crash.
She was found unconscious in the bay the night of the collision and underwent emergency brain surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
The Miami Herald reported that she required round-the-clock medical care and now uses a wheelchair. The extent of Puig’s injuries was not revealed to the jury throughout the trial.
Puig reportedly lives at home in Miami, Florida. In 2025, Katie was honored at the Nicklaus Children’s Ball. “I’m very proud of all the work I’ve done since the accident. I have the best support system I’ve ever had,” she told the Miami Herald a few days ago.
