By Peter Burke - Local10.com Managing Editor
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The parents of one of two South Florida teenagers who disappeared at sea during a fishing trip in 2015 are suing the family of their son's best friend.
Pamela and Philip Cohen joined attorney Guy Rubin outside the Palm Beach County courthouse Friday morning in West Palm Beach as they announced the filing of a wrongful-death lawsuit.
The Cohens are the parents of Perry Cohen, who disappeared with friend Austin Stephanos in July 2015.
Rubin said the lawsuit was filed "against those who contributed to the disappearance and presumed death" of Perry.
Because the state attorney's office declined to pursue a criminal case, civil action against Austin's parents is the Cohen family's only recourse, Rubin said.
A federal judge last week lifted an injunction that kept the Cohens from suing Austin's parents, Carly Black and Blu Stephanos, in state court.
The families of the missing 14-year-old boys have battled in court since December over a maritime law that limited the amount of damages the Cohens could collect from the value of the boat.