Topeka Kansas Man Sentenced to 12 Years For Cruise Ship Murder of His Girlfriend
A Kansas court has sentenced a Topeka man to 12 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend aboard a Carnival cruise ship. FoxNews.com reports that in December 2019, 55-year-old Eric Duane Newman pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree. He had been accused of killing his girlfriend Tamara Tucker…
Read MoreEx Los Angeles Attorney Found Guilty Of Killing Ex-Wife Aboard Cruise Ship
For the second time within the past week, a man is making headlines for being convicted of killing his romantic partner aboard a cruise ship. NBCLosAngeles.com reports that 62-year-old Lonnie Loren Kocontes was convicted of killing his 52-year-old ex-wife Micki Kanesaki while on a Mediterranean cruise in 2006. Kanesaki’s body was recovered by the crew…
Read MoreSlip and Fall on Carnival Cruise Ship’s Pool Deck
Williams v. Carnival Corporation, 2020 WL 837177 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 20, 2020): Carnival allowed a large puddle of water to accumulate on the open deck. Carnival’s puddle caused the Plaintiff to slip and fall and sustain severe and permanent injuries. Carnival filed a motion for summary judgment. The Court denied Carnival’s motion for summary judgment. …
Read MoreSlip and Fall on Carnival Cruise Ship
Cruise lines often seek to defeat passenger negligence claims by filing motions for summary judgment. These motions ask the court to rule in favor of the Defendant without a trial and throw the Plaintiff’s case out. A recent order by United States District Court Judge, Cecilia Altonaga, explains how a cruise line Defendant’s motion for…
Read MoreTrip and Fall on Carnival Pride Cruise Ship
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued its opinion in Carroll v. Carnival Corporation d/b/a Carnival Cruise Line, No. 17-13602, U.S. App. LEXIS 11860 (11th Cir. Apr. 15, 2020). Carroll v. Carnival Corporation is a trip and fall case. Elaine Carroll tripped over the leg of a lounge chair while she was walking through…
Read MoreCrusise Ship Doctor Dies of Coronavirus
The head doctor of the cruise ship Costa Fascinosa died of coronavirus after receiving treatment for the virus in Santos, Brazil. Maritime-executive.com reports that the deceased doctor was 70-year-old Paolo Mudanò of Genoa, Italy. Mudanò and other Fascinosa crew members have been quarantined off the coast of Santos, Brazil since March 19, as local authorities…
Read MoreDifferences Between COVID-19 and Legionnaires Disease
COVID-19 and Legionnaires’ Disease share several aspects in common. Both conditions have symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Both illnesses are particularly dangerous for individuals over the age of 50, or those with chronic lung diseases, weakened immune systems or smoking habits. However, the two illnesses differ in the way they spread and…
Read MoreCelebrity Infinity Suffers Fatality
The Celebrity Infinity cruise ship is in a holding pattern off the coast of Florida, filled with crew members who have not been able to leave the ship during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After the successful docking of the Holland America ships Zandaam and Rotterdam yesterday, it is still unclear what will happen to the ships’ crew…
Read MoreThe Troubling Truth About The Zaandam – Four Passengers Have Already Died
Just days ago the officials with Holland America expressed hope that its troubled ship, the MS Zaandam, would dock at Florida on March 30. Now that plan is in significant doubt after company officials reported that four passengers aboard the ship have died and two more have tested positive for coronavirus. Every day it seems that…
Read MorePromising South Florida Teen Killed in Boat Crash
South Florida resident 18-year-old Lucas Alvarez was killed in a boating crash late last week, in what was a tragic end to a promising life. MiamiHerald.com reports that Alvarez, a senior at Palmetto Bay’s Westminster Christian School, was a passenger in a 23-foot Pathfinder open fisherman vessel when it hit a boat marker. The force…
Read MoreFlorida Boy Develops Sepsis While Sailing on Cruise Ship
After suffering what seemed to be a normal cut on his eyelid shortly before going on a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line, Roman Mejias’ mother treated the cut with Neosporin. But instead of beginning to heal like a normal cut, over several days Roman’s cut developed sepsis and his eye eventually grew to the size…
Read MoreWiegands Dispute Video Apparently Showing Salvatore Anello Leaning from Window
Late last week, someone released a video that purported to show the moments leading up to the death of Chloe Wiegand. The video appeared to show Chloe’s grandfather, Salvatore Anello, leaning his torso out of an 11th-floor window just before lifting her up to it. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line cited the video as part of its…
Read MoreIKEA Settles Furniture Tip-Over Suit for $46 Million
In what may be one of the largest child wrongful death verdicts in U.S. history, a jury awarded $46 Million to a U.S. couple whose child died after being injured in a furniture tip-over accident. Craig and Joleen Dudek sued Swedish furniture giant IKEA for the accident that killed their 2-year-old son Jozef in three…
Read MoreSouth Carolina Man Suffers Stroke On Cruise Ship – Later Dies
A South Carolina man who suffered a stroke while aboard a cruise ship has passed away. Bruce Campbell suffered a stroke while he was playing bingo on a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas. Authorities took him to a medical facility in Freeport, Bahamas for treatment before an anonymous donor paid approximately $20,000 to transfer him…
Read More25-Year-Old Palm Beach Man Loses Arm in Boating Accident
Late last month a 25-year-old man lost his arm in a horrific boating accident, underscoring the oftentimes dangerous nature of boating in South Florida. In late November Palm Beach resident Carter Viss was snorkeling off the coast of Palm Beach when he was struck on the arm by a 2008 36-foot Yellowfin boat. The Florida…
Read MoreCarnival Cruise Line Attempts to Explain Cozumel Cruise Ship Collision
Six Carnival Cruise Line passengers were injured when two of the company’s ships collided in Cozumel yesterday. In a letter to passengers, the company attempted to explain the incident. According to FoxNews.com, the letter apologized for the incident, in which the Carnival Glory struck the Carnival Legend cruise ship while maneuvering in the port of Cozumel,…
Read MoreHolland America Cruise Ship Delayed by Propeller Issue
A Holland America cruise ship was delayed by a propeller issue which caused the ship’s departure to be pushed back a full 24 hours. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Oosterdam was set to leave San Diego on Saturday but instead, the company performed “required maintenance” on the ship’s propeller. The company said that…
Read MoreCaptain of Viking Cruise Ship Charged for Tragic Collision That Killed 27 People in May
Updated June 2023 In May, a Viking cruise ship collided with a smaller sightseeing vessel in Hungary. The cruise ship pushed the much smaller boat under the water, resulting in a massive loss of life. In all, 27 people lost their lives. Now, the cruise ship’s captain has been charged in connection with the tragedy.…
Read MoreMan Who Died in Cruise Ship Fall Was Indiana Father of Twin 3-Year-Old Boys
Earlier this week we blogged about a man who died after falling several stories aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. Information about the victim and the circumstances continue to trickle out. Brownsburg, Indiana resident Brian Rice fell approximately four stories – from the ninth story of the Horizon – as the ship was returning to…
Read MoreWhat to Do If You Suspect Child Sexual Abuse on a Cruise Ship
Thousands of families go on cruise ship vacations every year. For parents, one of the most enticing aspects of a cruise is the youth zones and activities for children. Many moms and dads can drop their children off at a youth area or onboard daycare and enjoy a kid-free afternoon. However, cruise lines often don’t…
Read MoreNightmare aboard Norwegian Cruise Ship as Man Allegedly Severely Assaults Woman
The FBI has arrested a man on suspicion that he severely assaulted a woman while sailing aboard a cruise ship. Arrest of Jeff Smiley III: Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Leff, of the FBI San Juan Field Office, announced the arrest of Jeff Smiley III for assault of a female passenger on a cruise…
Read MoreWhy Did the Man Accused of Molesting a Child on a Disney Cruise Ship Reject a Plea Deal?
On Friday the South Florida legal world was stunned to learn that accused cruise ship sexual assault perpetrator Oliver Lovatt rejected a plea deal which would have significantly reduced his potential jail time. Lovatt is facing serious charges stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted a boy aboard a Disney cruise ship earlier this year. …
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 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 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…
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