Kevin and Kimberly Albert, trustees of the Albert Revocable Trust in New Mexico, filed the lawsuit against Jim Jones, his company Noelani Yacht Charters and the ship captain. It says Jones and his company used the vessel "in a grossly negligent manner" for a personal trip without seeking the approval of the trust.
The 94-foot yacht Nakoa ran aground in Honolua Bay on Feb. 20 after its mooring line snapped. Private contractors towed the ship out to sea, where it sank in about 800 feet of water on March 5.
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A Maui businessman is being sued for $2 million after grounding a luxury yacht by a trust that sold him the vessel.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to bill Jones for the $460,000 cost of salvaging the boat. It's also considering fines after the episode damaged coral reef.
The lawsuit says Jones notified the trust after the grounding that he had taken the yacht out for personal use.
It says Jones and Noelani Yacht Charters breached a purchase agreement holding the buyer responsible for any risk of loss or damage. The agreement also outlined operations, crew requirements and restricted uses.
A phone message left for Jones at Noelani Yacht Charters was not immediately returned. The company's website says it's no longer in business.
The company told The Maui News in February that "this was a family retreat with an unfortunate ending."