Practice Areas

Cruise ship crew member from Haiti suffered a cumulative trauma disorder involving his back while performing his duties as a cleaner on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. He then was provided with negligent medical care treatment. The jury found the cruise line accountable. Verdict of 6.3 million.

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Crew Member on tugboat injures back handling heavy lines. Verdict of $3.7 Million.

Confidential Settlement

Cabin Steward was struck in the knee by a heavy piece of luggage. Company failed to provide prompt, proper and adequate medical care and treatment resulting in an unsuccessful knee surgery which led to an unnecessary knee replacement surgery.

Confidential Settlement

A crewmember suffers a stroke as a result of the failure to receive proper medical care and attention while onboard for a ship for his high blood pressure. Verdict of $2.7 Million.

Crewmember falls into hull of vessel resulting in serious injuries.

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Crew Worker crushed when steel plates suddenly fall on him because they were improperly secured. Suffered internal injuries.

Crewmember pulls large suitcase from trolley and suffered injury to his back. Company failed to provide, prompt, proper and adequate medical care and treatment. Verdict of $1,077,650.00.

Confidential Settlement

Settlement of Crewmember injured during luggage operations and suffers herniated disc.

Confidential Settlement

Waiter slipped and fell in kitchen due to ongoing problem in the lateral area of spillage of food and water creating a dangerous condition, causing approximately two accidents per week. Company did not provide rubber mats had slippery floors. Plaintiff had cervical and lumbar herniated discs. Verdict of $980,250.00.

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Confidential Settlement

Worker falls while painting on the bridge of ship due to failure to utilize proper safety devices and proper supervision. Settlement of $610,000.00.

Confidential Settlement

Our client, a female, was using stairs on the cruise ship when suddenly her shoe got stuck on a metal strip on the step that allowed the shoe to get stuck , causing her to fall, suffering severe foot injuries, including fractures and development of complex regional pain syndrome. The defense was our client was 100 percent at fault for not exercising reasonable care for her own safety, which defense blamed on having consumed too many alcoholic beverages. However, the cruise line sold our client one of the popular packages the cruise line offers, and profits from, an all you can drink package, including up to 15 alcoholic beverages per day. Although the cruise lines sell these packages , and make money from it, when a passenger suffers injury due to an incident such as a slip and fall, the cruise line is quick to deny blame and blame it on the alcohol consumption the cruise line encourages, provides, and profits from. Our liability expert inspected the steps and determined there was a tripping hazard for passengers that existed and was not fixed prior to the fall. In addition there was evidence of other slip/fall incidents on the steps due to tripping hazards that were not remedied by the cruise line. Just prior to the start of trial a confidential settlement was reached with the cruise lines.

Our client was a long term crewmember for the cruise line, having worked with the cruise line for over 20 years. One morning he was taken by another crew member to the ship's medical infirmary because he became ill with symptoms suggestive of a stroke. Despite the symptoms, and despite the fact that the cruise ship was not far from the port it had just left (which had major hospitals), the Captain and medical staff made the decision to continue on the scheduled voyage. This delayed the crewmember receiving medical treatment for almost 24 hours. By the time the crewmember received medical care and treatment at a specialized facility, it was too late. The crewmember had developed severe neurological damages, which eventually led to his death.

Our firm hired several medical experts regarding the medical negligence of the ship's medical staff, as well as the negligence of the cruise line, including the captain, and failing to promptly evacuate the crewmember. The case involved discovery into the practices and procedures that cruise lines follow when there is a medical emergency at sea that requires immediate treatment beyond the scope of that which can be provided on the cruise ship. There is a duty to get a passenger crewmember to an appropriate shoreside medical facility as soon as possible when they are suffering a medical emergency that requires specialized treatment beyond the scope of that provided on board the cruise ship. By not taking action or even attempting to contact the Coast Guard for an evacuation, the cruise line argued that it would not have made a difference even if they had attempted to evacuate the passenger crewmember. Ultimately, a confidential settlement was reached with the cruise line.