Child Accident
Poorly Designed Glass Entryway Poses Hazard To Travelers – Results In Multiple Injuries
Continuing with yesterday’s theme of faulty cruise ship design, today we look at the case of a poorly designed cruise ship arcade which employs glass that is difficult for passengers to see. Entrances of this type can present a significant hazard to passengers because, without proper warning, people can walk directly into the glass at full…
Read MoreCruise Line Negligence Puts Teens At Risk – Results in Horrific Sexual Assault
One of the most commonly reported crimes aboard cruise ships is sexual assault and rape. Cruise crime stats are reported quarterly, and some quarters cruise ship sexual assault reports outnumber all other reports of crimes, including theft and assault. The majority of victims are women and children. The following is an excerpt from a complaint Hickey…
Read MoreCruise Ship Coronavirus Screening Faces Uphill Battle Due to Asymptomatic Positives
As cruise companies push to return to service, they are facing an uphill battle as it relates to detaining coronavirus’ spread aboard their vessels. During the height of the coronavirus outbreak, cruise ships were among the most affected, and infected, locations in the world, with one ship seeing over 700 people catch the coronavirus while…
Read MoreVideo Show Chloe Wiegand’s Grandfather Seemingly Sticking His Head Out of 11th Floor Window Before Her Fall
For months, the saga of Chloe Wiegand has captivated the cruise community. After dying in a tragic fall from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in July 2019, it seemed that the most likely explanation for the 18-month-old’s death was that her grandfather had accidentally held her up to a window that he believed was closed, only to…
Read MoreRoyal Caribbean Claims Chloe Wiegand’s Grandfather Knew Ship Window Was Open Before Her Fall
Its undoubtedly been a very trying half year for the Wiegands, After losing their 18-month-old daughter Chloe in a tragic fall from a cruise ship window in July, the family was horrified to learn that Chloe’s grandfather, Salvatore Anello, was not only responsible but would be prosecuted by authorities in Puerto Rico for her death.…
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 MoreFlorida Boy Scout Sex Abuse Victims File in Washington, D.C.
Recently filed lawsuits reveal that for several years Florida youths were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by the Boy Scout scoutmaster of their Gainsville troop. The Miami Herald reports that the alleged abuse occurred during a three-year period starting in 1993 and allegedly occurred in the scoutmaster’s truck and at Boy Scout related parties. Mcclatchydc.com…
Read MoreThird Victim Dies Following Deadly Cruise Excursion Crashes in Belize
Yesterday we blogged that two American citizens had lost their lives in a tragic vehicle collision in Belize. Now, major news outlets are reporting that another American has died in a separate vehicle crash in the country. DallasNews.com reports that the victims were all North Texas residents. Two of the victims, Adrian and Sara Armijo…
Read More10-Year-Old Boy Drowns Aboard Cruise Ship in Asia
Newsweek.com reports that a 10-year-old-boy was found unresponsive in the pool of an Asian cruise ship on Monday, and was later pronounced dead. The victim was traveling with his mother a friend aboard the Genting Dream cruise ship on a three-day itinerary when he was found dead. The ship was docked at Star Cruise Jetty in…
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 MoreMore Information on Recent Cruise Ship Sexual Assault Arrest
Last week we blogged about a cruise ship worker who was recently arrested for allegedly raping a fellow crew member aboard the ship on which they worked as it sailed toward St. Thomas. Now, authorities have released more information about the case. Authorities have identified Louie Ison Mangampat of the Philippines as the alleged perpetrator.…
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 MoreAccused 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 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 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 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 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 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…
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 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 MoreCruise Passenger Rescued after Falling Overboard from Ship
CruiseHive.com reports that On September 26th, a cruise ship passenger was rescued after falling overboard from the ship and spending an hour in the Pacific Ocean. The passenger, whose name wasn’t confirmed, was on the MSC Divina, which at the moment of the incident had just left Palma de Mallorca, Spain, towards Valencia. The event…
Read MoreCarnival Cruise Line Still Does Not Station Lifeguards at Onboard Swimming Pools
For decades, many of the major cruise companies refused to station lifeguards at onboard swimming pools. Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Carnival all saw fit to allow infants, toddlers, and children to use the companies’ swimming facilities without helping to ensure their safety by staffing the pool areas with safety personnel. Royal Caribbean and Disney both…
Read MoreMan Admits to Beating Woman While Sailing on a Cruise Ship off Massachusetts Coast
In April, authorities arrested 45-year-old Adam Damian Panetta on suspicion of having severely beaten a woman as the two sailed on a cruise ship off the coast of Massachusetts. According to MassLive.com, prosecutors alleged that Panetta and the victim were acquaintances, and that the assault occurred as they were sailing on the Norwegian Gem cruise…
Read MoreRoyal Caribbean Crew Member Dead After Falling Overboard from Ship on Which He Worked
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has announced that earlier this month a crew member on one of its cruise ships fell overboard and was later pronounced dead. The Miami Herald reports that the victim, 35-year-old Mansley Pereira, was working on the Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship on September 22 when he fell overboard. The ship…
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