The state of Michigan is relinquishing ownership of a rare artifact linked to the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck, acquired through an unrelated lawsuit settlement. Larry Orr will regain possession of one of the ship’s life rings, with the state agreeing to pay $600,000 US to resolve his lawsuit concerning police misconduct.
In 1975, shortly after the Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, Orr discovered the life ring and a fragment of a lifeboat on a Michigan shoreline, following the tragic loss of all 29 crew members. Recalling the somber moment, Orr expressed a sense of eerie anticipation, hoping to find signs of potential survivors but encountered no traces of life.
Decades later, during discussions with the Michigan State Police to settle a lawsuit over alleged rights violations by Lt. David Busacca, Orr’s ownership of the Fitzgerald life ring came to light. The state’s sudden interest in the artifact during negotiations led to a revised settlement amount of $600,000, doubling the initial sum.
Following public scrutiny of the unusual deal, subsequent negotiations among legal representatives resulted in a revised agreement. Orr will receive the life ring back, while taxpayers will bear the $600,000 settlement cost for the police misconduct lawsuit.
Having previously loaned the ring to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Orr now contemplates selling it at an auction. His intention is to secure funds for purchasing a modular home and addressing urgent financial needs, including replacing his wife’s failing car.
The resolution of the lawsuit and the return of the historic artifact mark a significant chapter in Orr’s long-standing connection to the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy.