Finally some good news for Holland America, and it’s just in time because the Seattle-based cruise line is still smarting from being slammed with a multimillion-dollar verdict in an injured-passenger lawsuit. You may recall that a Federal jury in Seattle awarded $21.5 million in damages to an Illinois man who suffered a brain injury when he was struck in the head by a sliding glass door on HA’s M/S Amsterdam back in 2011. The verdict, which was rendered nearly four years later, includes $16.5 million in punitive damages against Holland America–the largest punitive damage claim I can recall against a cruise line.
I am sure that Holland America will appeal the verdict and most likely win some kind of reduction. I hope that Carnival Cruise Lines, which owns HA–and a dozen other brands, like Costa, Princess and Seabourn–will take immediate steps to inspect all of the doors on all of their ships to make sure something like this never happens again to anyone else.
GOOD NEWS FOR HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE PASSENGERS
Last week the M/S Zuiderdam was subjected to a spot inspection by the United States Public Health inspection, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while it was in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States as it was about to start a 12-day Panama Canal and Caribbean cruise. The spot inspection resulted in a perfect score of 100. This followed another 100 perfect score for the M/S Eurodam in October, 2015, also performed in Fort Lauderdale.
Congratulations are in order for HA’s President Orlando Ashford because as of today, in 2015 seven of Holland America’s ten ships have received perfect scores–which speaks highly of the efforts being made to re-establish Holland’s tarnished reputation.
Even though Carnival, which is based in Miami, Florida, requires passengers’ injury claims against it to be filed and litigated in a Florida Federal Court, Holland America mandates claims against it be filed in Washington State, regardless of where the injury occurred or where the passenger is from. If you are hurt aboard a cruise ship anywhere in the world, we recommend that you seek an immediate legal consultation with an experienced cruise ship accident lawyer.
NO MONEY–NO FEE OR COSTS: 1-866-597-4529
Our maritime injury attorneys work strictly on a contingency basis. That means we are not paid unless we recover money for our clients. Our team of personal injury lawyers have nearly 50 years of combined legal experience battling the major cruise lines–like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Disney, Princess, MSC, Holland America, Seabourn, Regents, and more–on behalf of people who have slipped, tripped, been assaulted or otherwise hurt while simply attempting to enjoy their cruises. We offer anyone who has a potential case a free consultation via telephone 1-866-597-4529, SKYPE or email at [email protected]
Call today and speak to a lawyer who knows how to investigate and prosecute your potential claim and get you reasonable monetary compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, transportation reimbursement, loss of cruise, and pain and suffering. Remember, most cruise lines require that a lawsuit be filed within one year of the date of the incident. Others have very specific notice requirements that must be complied with in order to preserve your legal rights. Call us today–we are ready to help.
