Brais & Brais’ Maritime & Boating Accident Lawyer News Blog in January 2011 reported on a recreational boat explosion at the Delray Harbor Club Marina in Delray Beach, Florida. This tragic event caused the death of Robert Romanelli and injured two others including the owner. The explosion also resulted in significant damage to nearby boats and docks.
Recently, there has been major legislation concerning the problem of rape and sexual assaults on cruise ships. On July 27, 2010, President Obama signed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act into law. This act increases security, law enforcement, and cruise lines’ accountability for rapes and sexual assaults occurred on their cruise ships.
Our maritime lawyers receive many calls from passengers who visit cruise doctors for routine medical problems but, due to medical malpractice, are left in a weaker condition. Often times improper medical treatment by cruise doctors’ leads to prolonged hospitalization, organ damage, amputation or death. The question on many passengers’ minds who are victims of medical malpractice is, “Are the cruise lines responsible?” This article is meant to explain passengers’ rights when injured by a cruise doctor.
Every year news sources report certain cruise ships sail into port with several passengers sick from Norovirus. In years past, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), Royal Caribbean Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Celebrity Cruises all reported Norovirus outbreaks on their ships. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over twenty percent of all Norovirus cases contracted in the United States occurred in vacation settings including cruise ships. Norovirus in the cruise industry is so widespread that the CDC’s website lists all cruise ships with Norovirus outbreaks and when those outbreaks occured. We receive many calls from passengers who contracted Norovirus while cruising asking about their legal rights. This article is meant to explain what is Norovirus, how Norovirus spreads and what are the cruise lines’ liabilities for Norovirus.
