Parents charge parachute system was defective

In June of last year, 31-year-old Navy SEAL Bradley Cavner was killed in a parachute accident. On November 25 of this year, his parents, Steve and Beth Cavner, had their wrongful death suit moved from superior court to federal court. They are charging negligence and design defects, among other things.

Defendant is Airborne Systems of North America, a unit of HDT Global. According to the suit, Cavner was serving as a jump master, helping the parachutists get out the door and into the air.

In this case, Cavner's reserve chute opened "violently and unexpectedly," according to the suit. Cavner was dragged out of the aircraft and killed when his head hit the aircraft door. There have been a number of such unintentional chute openings that the manufacturer should have taken into account, charges the suit.

Bradley Cavner grew up in Coronado and reportedly enlisted in the Navy in 2003. During his service he earned many medals, including the Bronze Star.