A man is being sued for commandeering a small boat which he used in part of his efforts to rescue over 200 people after Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans. Yep. Mark Morice took John M. Lyons Jr's boat without asking, and went around the city rescuing people trapped in attics and on rooftops, taking them to the hospital or dropping them off on dry land, and later helping to evacuate the hospital. Then he left Lyons' boat for other rescuers to use, rather than returning it.

This unauthorized charitable comandeering episode apparently caused Lyons "grief, mental anguish, embarrassment and suffering," according to his lawsuit. I guess his suffering really didn't come to a head until his insurance company refused to pay him the full replacement cost of the boat (which has since disappeared), and Morice also failed to cough up $12,000 to ease Lyons' pain. Poor guy. I can only imagine how traumatic and humiliating it would be to know that your personal watercraft was used to save dozens of people's lives. I mean. You know.

One wonders if maybe Lyons could get additional help for all his anguish and suffering by forming a support group with the two other New Orleans residents who's boats Morice commandeered during the flooding. They've apparently managed to cope with their losses without the need for the healing power of petty lawsuits. Maybe they could give ol' John some tips on how to deal with his grief and embarassment?

For chrissakes.