The Philmont Country Club in Huntingdon Valley has been ordered to pay $9.1 million to the family of Justin Riegel, a golf professional who was killed by a tree during a storm in 2020, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Riegel worked as the club’s director of golf. A Philadelphia jury found Philmont liable for Riegel’s death after determining that the club could have done more to prepare for the storm that felled the tree, and that the tree itself should have been assessed, condemned and removed. 

Prosecutors said he was struck by the tree while parking a cart in the barn, while the defense argued that he was in the storage room talking with a colleague.

Riegel’s son was born weeks after his death, and his widow, Kate Hannon, sued the corporate entities that own and manage Philmont. The son was awarded $9.1 million.

“There are 9 million lessons to be learned for property owners, including golf course managers, following this verdict. Golf courses must diligently maintain their properties, and that includes their trees, which add beauty and environmental benefits, but only if they are properly maintained,” attorney Michael Zettlemoyer said. “The law is well settled for more than 100 years that the owner of a hazardous tree is no different than the owner of poorly maintained building – low-rise or skyscraper – that might be on the brink of collapse and causing catastrophic injuries. They have a duty to protect and failure to act is subject to legal consequences.”

According to the Inquirer, the decision cannot be appealed because of the agreement both parties entered. The verdict is believed to be among the largest of its kind in a lethal, workplace tree-collapse case in Pennsylvania.

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Photos: Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky