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DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS THE CRUISE LINES DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW
Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD and the Carnival Corporation are convicted felons. That’s right. Each company pled guilty to felonies under admiralty law before a Miami Federal Court. These crimes included polluting our waters and lying about it to the United States Government in repeated cover ups. They had to pay fines, were placed on probation, and were forced to admit to each company’s actions. They made these admissions in plea agreements with the Federal Government. If you would like to examine a more detailed record of these cruise line convictions, below we have attached the convictions and plea agreements of both cruise line companies. CALL US TOLL FREE SO WE CAN HELP YOU, YOUR FRIENDS, OR YOUR FAMILY: 1.866.523.5072.
WHAT THE CRUISE LINES DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW: REALITY AND THE LAW
The cruise lines want you to think that cruise ship rape and sexual assault never occurs - in Florida or anywhere else. The cruise lines save money by hiring foreign nationals as crew members, including waiters. They pay these waiters little or nothing in salary. The cruise lines set up a table assignment and tipping system and rely on the passengers to pay the waiters through that tipping system. The tipping system is an integral part of the caterer-passenger relationship that encourages the waiter to socialize with the assigned dinner passengers. Furthermore, the cruise lines know that any passengers on the cruise ship are open to forming a trusting relationship with the waiters and other crew members and staff on board the cruise ship. Passengers on their cruise ship vacation are relaxed. Because they trust that they are in a safe environment, they do not expect any personal injury to occur. They let their guard down.
THE CRUISE LINES CREATE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
Cruise ship rape and sexual assault happens in Miami and Dade County, Florida more often than many people realize, and it happens because the cruise lines create a false sense of security among their passengers and then refuse to take proper responsibility for passenger safety. Cruises are marketed by the cruise lines as an experience within a closed environment which on some ships is all inclusive. The only thing you need to carry with you throughout the cruise ship is your internal card used to charge things on your passenger cruise line account. The cruise lines make a lot of money by keeping you in an insulated environment, and yet very little of that money comes back to you in the form of assurances of your protection. The cruise lines have a duty to prevent cruise ship accidents and to ensure that you are not a victim of cruise ship crime. The cruise lines need to be held responsible for the situations they create and the people that are hurt as a result. If you have been a victim of cruise ship rape and sexual assault, contact our admiralty law firm in Miami and Dade County, Florida. John (Jack) H. Hickey and his legal team are experienced maritime law experts who can help to ensure you receive just compensation for the trauma and injuries you’ve suffered.
WE HELP CRUISE SHIP RAPE VICTIMS IN MIAMI AND THROUGHOUT FLORIDA HOLD THE CRUISE LINES RESPONSIBLE!
THE CRUISE LINES OWE YOU, THE PASSENGER, A DUTY UNDER THE LAW.
The cruise line owes a non-delegable duty to protect their passengers from cruise ship crew-member rape and sexual assault and thereby safely transport their cruise passengers. Accordingly, Federal and State laws impose on the cruise line strict liability for crew member assault on passengers. The general maritime and admiralty law, state and federal, imposes a strict liability on the common carrier, including the cruise line herein, for sexual assault and/or rape and sexual battery. This is a "special non-delegable duty owed by the carrier to the passenger”. Doe v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., 394 F. 3d 891, 907 (11th Circuit 2004); New Orleans and N.E.R. Co. v. Jopes, 142 U.S. 18, 12 S.Ct. 109, 35 L.Ed. 919 (1891); New Jersey Steam-Boat Co. v. Brockett, 121 U.S. 637, 7 S.Ct. 1039, 30 L.Ed. 1049 (1887); thus, the cruise line has an "unconditional responsibility” for its employees misconduct. Tullis v. Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York, 397 F. 2d 22, 23 (5th Cir. 1968) as cited by the 11th Circuit in Doe v. Celebrity Cruises Inc., 394 F. 3d at 909. Stated otherwise, "it is a widely adopted rule that common carriers owe such an absolute duty to their passengers”. Morton v. De Oliveira, 984 F. 2d 289, 291-92 (9th Circuit 1993) as cited in Doe v. Celebrity Cruises Inc. 394 F. 3d at 911. See, Nadeau v. Costley, 634 S. 2d 649, 652-3 (Fl 3d D.C.A. 1994) and Commodore Cruise Line, Ltd. v. Kormendi, 344 S. 2d 896 (Fl. 3d D.C.A. 1977).
TOP 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO IF ASSAULTED ON A CRUISE SHIP
- Report it immediately to the security officer onboard the ship.
- Go to the ship’s infirmary immediately for treatment of any physical injuries and to report the incident.
- Get the names of all of the crewmembers involved or who were nearby.
- Get the full names and all contact information of all passengers with any information.
- Report the incident immediately to the FBI. Yes, they do investigate these incidents.
- Go immediately to the nearest rape treatment center. Every major hospital has one. The ER’s of most hospitals have rules and protocols for treating and testing for rape.
- Go immediately to get medical treatment for your physical injuries or problems. This would include a gynecologist, orthopedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, and family doctor.
- Take photos of any physical injuries or bruises. "A picture is worth a thousand words”.
- Seek psychological counseling.
- CALL US TODAY TOLL FREE AT 1.800.215.7117. We can help. We have experience in representing the victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual battery on cruise ships. John H. (Jack) Hickey represented the major cruise lines for 17 years and now represents you the seriously injured person. Jack is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and by The Florida Bar; Past President of the Dade County (Miami) Bar Association; and has been recognized by his peers as a "TOP LAWYER” by the South Florida Legal Guide in the areas of Maritime and Personal Injury; as a "SUPERLAWYER” (top 5% of lawyers) by Superlawyer Magazine; and as a "LEGAL ELITE” (top 1.7% of lawyers) by Florida Trend Magazine. Call us for a free consultation today at 1.800.215.7117.
Victims of cruise ship rape and sexual assault need to act quickly. Print out our compact pocket emergency information kit. For your safety, carry it in your wallet or purse at all times. It will tell you what to do and who to call to get help for yourself or your loved ones.
CONTACT JOHN (JACK) H. HICKEY, AN ADMIRALTY LAW EXPERT SERVING MIAMI AND ALL OF FLORIDA
If you’ve been a victim of cruise ship sexual assault or rape in Miami or Dade County, Florida, John (Jack) H. Hickey and his team of legal professionals can help. Florida law statutes hold the cruise lines responsible when they fail to ensure a passenger’s safety. It is important to remember that what happened to you was not your fault. It was the fault of two parties only - the person who committed the crime and the cruise line whose negligence allowed that crime to happen. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with an admiralty law expert from our Miami firm.
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If you have been the victim of cruise ship rape or sexual assault in Miami or Dade County, Florida, you need an expert in admiralty law. Our Miami law firm can help. Contact John Hickey today.
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