Princess Sued Over Listing Incident

[rogue]

Passengers who were seriously injured in a violent listing of a cruise liner a year ago Wednesday off the coast of Florida are taking Princess Cruise Lines to court. In multiple lawsuits filed this week, passengers are claiming they have not received adequate compensation from the company.

According to Daniel Rose, an attorney representing many of the plaintiffs, the ship listed suddenly to at least 15 degrees when it appears the crew was trying to readjust the ballast. Several passengers received broken arms, broken legs and head injuries.

Although the listing occurred off the coast of Florida and most of the plaintiffs live in New York state and the Northeast, the lawsuits are being filed in Los Angeles because Princess Cruises' corporate headquarters is in Santa Clarita and a clause in each passenger ticket requires that any lawsuits be filed here, according to Gretchen M. Nelson, who represents about 25 plaintiffs named in two lawsuits.

Most of the lawsuits allege negligence and compensation for various injuries. No one was killed.

According to Nelson's complaints, the Crown Princess "abruptly and violently rolled and listed onto its side" about 11 miles from Port Canaveral, Fla., on July 18, 2006. The ship had completed a Western Caribbean tour and was headed to New York City, the complaints state.

The listing was so extreme that passengers near windows "watched in terror as the ship began to roll into the ocean and (the) sky and horizon disappeared," the lawsuits state.

Furniture was thrown to one side and water drained from the pools, the complaints state.

"Passengers throughout the ship were holding on to railings and any other stationary support and in fear of their lives," the complaints state.

After the ship was righted, the Crown Princess was docked in Port Canaveral, where members of the Coast Guard and the local fire department helped evacuate them, the complaints state. The passengers were taken by alternate transportation back to New York and arrived later than they expected, the complaints state.

The ship was on its fourth cruise and was christened in June 2006 in Brooklyn, N.Y., according to the lawsuits. The complaints allege those operating the vessel were unfamiliar with and were not properly trained in using the ship's steering system.

According to Rose, the National Transportation and Safety Board and the Coast Guard have been investigating the incident but have not been forthcoming with their conclusions. Weather did not appear to be a factor.

"As far as I know, it was clear sailing," Nelson said.

[sailingrose]

Not surprised at all. Terrifying for sure especially since both you and I Howard were going to sail that ship.

[hazelson]

The lawyers are always the ones to "win" the most - but if Princess had made a good compensation offer who knows! And it looks like it was a crew error. Must have been very frightening!

[rogue]

The incident occurred on the cruise just after mine. We were on the 3rd, and it was on the 4th cruise. A bit frightening.

[CanadianCruiser]

Scared the heck out of me when I first read about it last year, reading it again sends shivers down my spine.

[Brady121291]

Yipee I leave on tht ship in a few weeks, uhoh? nah im only kidding i knew all along so im not to worried

[sailingrose]

I wouldn't be worried either. That's probably the safest ship at sea right now. Princess would hate to have a 2nd incident. We sailed her a few weeks after the list and no problems.

[jacketwatch]

Brady: Well I sure hope your cruise is, sorry, "listless"

[JohnG]

I've been on Navy ships that rolled 45 degrees. 15 degrees is not extreme if things are "battened down and prepared for sea", which they definitely are not on a cruise ship. I seem to recall that this was allegedly human error.

The people who were injured, I feel sorry for. But anything more than coverage of medical costs is not really warranted. I'm not a fan of this litigous society. Lawsuits because they were late arriving in New York???? Lawyers like these are "ambulance chasers", and they get most of any damages awarded in these suits, not the plaintiffs. IMHO Off my soapbox. And I'm ashamed to admit that we have two Florida lawyers in the family!

[jacketwatch]

John you will like this story. Sometime all that stuff backfires. My son was sued for 250K( the full limits of his ins. policy) for an auto accident in which the plaintiff suffered a broken toe and a minor scalp laceration. They tried to concoct a story about her suffering from post-concussion syndrome but only they could not see the futility of their arguement. All they saw were $$$ signs. It finally went to trial after 4 yrs. The lawyer hired by the insurance co. shredded her story and after all was said and done she ended up OWING 17k for medical bills which the jury decided were fraudulent as the supposed symptoms she claimed were lies.