Personal Injury
Accused Disney Cruise Line Child Molester Rejects Plea – Faces 25+ Years in Prison
Several weeks ago we blogged about a former Disney Cruise Line worker who was arrested and charged with sexually molesting a 10-year-old boy who was in his care while he worked on the ship. At a court hearing on Friday, the alleged perpetrator rejected a plea deal, setting up a potential court battle with high…
Read MoreCruise Passenger Dead After Falling from Cruise Ship In Norway
A cruise ship passenger died on Thursday after falling from a cruise ship in Norway the day before. Foxnews.com reports that the 40-something-year-old woman fell from the MS Finnmarken cruise ship on Wednesday as the ship was en route to Ålesund. Norwegian authorities deployed “all available resources” in the search for the woman, including a…
Read MoreFL Appeal Court Urges State’s Supreme Court to Review Medical Malpractice Statute
For decades Floridians have been prevented from collecting certain damages from medical malpractice claims. The situation came to a head earlier this month when the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal urged the state’s Supreme Court to reevaluate a state law prohibiting adults from suing for non-economic damages when their parents die as a result…
Read MoreMaryland Police Department Performs Dramatic Helicopter Evacuation from Cruise Ship
The Maryland State Police Department (MPD) came to the aid of a sick cruise ship passenger on Tuesday, performing a medical evacuation of the victim from the ship and transporting her to a local hospital. WTOP.com reports that MPD executed the “dramatic” rescue by performing an “aerial hoist operation” in a W-139 helicopter after a…
Read MoreWiegand Family Upset After Grandfather Charged for Toddler’s Cruise Ship Death
The family of a toddler who was killed in a cruise ship accident over the summer is lamenting a decision by Puerto Rican authorities to charge her grandfather with the girl’s death. As we blogged yesterday, Salvatore “Sam” Anello is set to face negligent manslaughter charges after he lifted 18-month-old Chole Wiegand up to a…
Read MoreAuthorities Charge Grandfather of Toddler Who Fell from Cruise Ship with Manslaughter
Over the summer the nation was gripped by the tragedy of an Indiana family who lost their 18-month old daughter and sister when the toddler fell to her death from a cruise ship. The girl, Chloe Wiegand, was with her grandfather when she fell. He had been holding her up to a widow on the…
Read MoreWhy Did a Child Mysteriously Die Aboard a Cruise Ship Earlier This Week? MSC Cruises Refuses to Say
Several days after a young cruise ship passenger mysteriously died while sailing on an MSC cruise itinerary in Italy, authorities have yet to fully disclose the illness that killed the boy. The 12-year-old child became ill while sailing in Italy aboard the MSC Divina. MSC spokesperson Robin Roothans indicated that the family sought medical treatment…
Read MoreCoast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Carnival Dream Passenger
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for a man who went missing from a cruise ship on Thursday night. Carnival says that the 26-year-old man apparently jumped from his cabin room aboard the Carnival Dream ship as it sailed on a 4-day itinerary to Cozumel. ABC13.com reports that the Coast Guard search…
Read MoreYet Another Cruise Ship Passenger Lost at Sea – This Time from the Carnival Dream
It seems like every couple of weeks another person is lost at sea from a cruise ship. Both passengers and crew members alike have fallen from cruise ships at an alarming rate in recent months, and today yet another cruise ship overboard was reported. ABC13.com reports that the U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a…
Read More12-year-old Boy Mysteriously Dies Aboard MSC Cruise in Italy
Newsweek is reporting that a 12-year-old boy suddenly died as he and his family sailed aboard the MSC Divina cruise ship in Italy. The ship was traveling from Palermo, Italy, to Calgliari when the boy died. Though his parents sought medical assistance from crew members aboard the ship, their efforts to resuscitate him were not…
Read MoreCalifornia Takes a Step in the Right Direction – Banning Mandatory Arbitration Agreements for New Employees
The push against mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer and employment agreements has just taken a significant step forward after California recently passed a law banning the clauses in certain employment contracts. But while the legislation is a step in the right direction, it still leaves plenty of ground to cover before all workers are covered. …
Read MoreIts Time for Cruise Lines to Admit That They Have a Sexual Assault Problem
In light of last week’s arrest of a Disney Cruise Line employee, who stands accused of having sexually assaulted a 10-year-old boy that was in his care, some may wonder if cruise ships have a sexual assault problem. Cruise companies have known for years that their crew members, and fellow passengers, frequently commit sexual assaults…
Read MoreAccidents and Sexual Assault on Cruise Ships
Cruise vacations entice millions of men, women, and families worldwide to pack their bags and embark on a sea-going voyage. Unfortunately, many people are harmed each year by cruise ship accidents. Sexual assault and rape are also common occurrences onboard popular cruise lines. Learn about accidents and sexual assault on cruise ships in the video…
Read MoreTroubled Brightline Train Claims Another South Florida Life
Since South Florida’s Brightline train launched test runs in 2018, the high speed locomotives have been involved in many incidents including crashes resulting in property damage, bodily injury, and even death. It seems like every few weeks another report comes out about a Brightline crash. Most of the incidents involve vehicles being struck while on the train…
Read MoreCruise Passenger Climbs on Outside Railing to Take Photo – Gets Banned for Life
Some may remember Nick Naydev, the 27-year-old man who jumped off the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas cruise ship as a prank earlier this year. Naydev and a friend recorded the stunt and posted online, resulting in both men being kicked off the ship and banned for life. Now, another passenger has met a…
Read MoreDid the Disney Cruise Line Crew Member Have More Child Sex Assault Victims?
Last week the travel industry was rocked by the reported arrest of a former Disney Cruise Line worker who is accused of having sexually assaulted a child in his care. Considering that the suspected perpetrator, 25-year-old Oliver Lovatt, would presumably have had numerous children in his care over time, many are wondering if he may…
Read MoreLaw 360 Article: Forced Arbitration in Autonomous Vehicle Suits Would Be Bad for Companies and Consumers
By now most people are probably aware that self-driving cars (HAVs) are slowly but surely taking to the roads. A recent Law 360 article says that since July, a company called Waymo LLC conducted over 6,200 passenger trips, traveling over 47,000 miles, in autonomous vehicles. Waymo is owned by Alphabet LLC, the same company that owns…
Read MoreThat Time Disney Cruise Line Covered for a Crew Member Who Had Sexually Assaulted a Young Girl
If you want to take a cruise with children, chances are your number one choice would be a Disney cruise. Most kids know the Disney characters, and would be thrilled to see them come to life while sailing the high seas. This is why it is so disturbing that a former Disney Cruise Line crew…
Read MoreVictims’ Advocates Continue to Call for Change to Florida’s Medical Malpractice Compensation Law
Every year the state of Florida sees thousands of operations and other medical procedures and services performed within its borders. Usually, everything goes well. But when medical professionals make a mistake, people’s lives can be put in jeopardy. The state’s medical malpractice laws allow for the loved ones of those who have died due to…
Read MoreWhat Is Included In A Free Consultation?
In a free consultation with Hickey Law Firm, P.A. we focus on asking the right questions which will help us determine some of the more important aspects of your case including: Whether there is fault, and if so who is responsible Whether we can prove that the other party is at fault Whether you have…
Read MoreCruise Ship Passenger Reported Dead After Falling Overboard
A cruise ship passenger was pronounced dead last week after falling overboard from the ship on which she was traveling. Newsweek.com reports that the 75-year-old female victim was sailing aboard the Costa Pacifica cruise ship when she supposedly jumped overboard voluntarily at about 10:45pm on Thursday. The report cites a witness who claims to have…
Read MoreTalk of Mutiny As Cruise Passengers Protest NCL Itinerary Changes
As cruise passengers set sail on a two week itinerary aboard the Norwegian Spirit last week, few could have predicted what would happen. Many of the travelers had booked the cruise expecting to visit Iceland and other European destinations. But that stop was cancelled, causing tension to rise. MSN Lifestyle News reports that days later…
Read MoreFormer Disney Cruise Line Worker Arrested – Accused of Molesting Child Aboard Ship
Authorities have arrested a former Disney cruise lines worker under suspicion of molesting a child who was under his custody aboard the ship. 24-year-old Oliver Lovatt allegedly molested the 10-year-old victim while the victim sailed aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship. Lovatt was working as a youth entertainment host at the time of the alleged…
Read MoreAuthorities Release Identity of Man Who Was Critically Injured in Carnival Valor Fall This Week
Authorities have shared released the identify of the man who fell and was critically injured aboard a cruise ship earlier this week. The victim was 23-year-old police officer John Thomas Holliday. AL.com reports that Holliday is a police officer with the police in Huntsville, Alabama. Though Carnival has confirmed that Holliday fell and was injured aboard…
Read MoreCruise Passenger Severely Injured in Fall Aboard Carnival Valor
A man was critically injured after he suffered a fall aboard a cruise ship yesterday. People.com reports that the man was sailing on a 5-day itinerary to Cozumel, Mexico aboard the Carnival Valor cruise ship when he fell and sustained “multiple significant injuries.” The ship was off the coast of Louisiana when the man fell,…
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