Monday, January 25, 2010

Dobbs Ferry Retirees File Suit Against Cruise Line and Tour Agency for Capsized Vessel, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 07-CV-3665

Dobbs Ferry Retirees File Suit Against Cruise Line and Tour Agency for Capsized Vessel, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 07-CV-3665

May 9 , 2007 the Law Office of Todd Krouner filed suit in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 07-CV-3665, in White Plains, New York, on behalf of 15 passengers who were aboard the M/S Sea Diamond in Greece, which crashed and sank on April 6, 2007.

Chappaqua, NY (PRWEB) June 4, 2007

May 9, 2007the Law Office of Todd Krouner filed suit in the United United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 07-CV-3665, in White Plains, New York, on behalf of 15 passengers who were aboard the M/S Sea Diamond in Greece, which crashed and sank on April 6, 2007.

Jacqueline M. James, of Counsel to the Law Office of Todd J. Krouner, has been retained by a group of passengers who were traveling together from Dobbs Ferry, New York, and surrounding villages. A number of the group members were retired teachers from the Dobbs Ferry School District. The group has stayed in contact post-retirement and has expanded to include other friends who had joined them on this trip.

The plaintiffs had purchased an "escorted" travel package from Group Voyagers, Inc., which does business as "Globus," and specializes in escorted tours in foreign countries. Globus, in turn, arranged for the plaintiffs to take a four-day cruise through the Greek Islands with Louis Cruise Lines on the M/S Sea Diamond cruise ship.

The complaint alleges that the M/S Sea Diamond had 1,547 passengers and crew onboard. Most of the 1,195 passengers were Americans and Canadians. On April 5, 2007, at around 4 p. m., the ship ran aground on a well-marked volcanic reef east of NEA Caiman, off of the Greek Island Santorini. On April 7, 2007, Greek authorities announced the Captain and a number of the crewmembers were being charged by Greek authorities for their negligence. The charges include causing a shipwreck through negligence, breaching international shipping safety regulations and polluting the environment. The Greek authorities have also announced that the charges may be amended to include criminal charges. The Greek authorities have noted that the underwater reef was well marked on available navigational equipment and maps. Additionally, a number of the vessel's air-tight doors failed to properly function, allowing water to flood the cabins. A representative from Louis Cruise Lines has publicly admitted that the crash was the result of human error on the part of Louis Cruise personnel.

The complaint further alleges on April 28, 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported that eye-witness accounts have revealed that the evacuation was poorly planned and implemented. The passengers were forced to endure hours of chaos, fear and images of their death, and fear for health and safety of their loved ones. Maritime safety guidelines generally require that a ship be evacuated within an hour. Two of the passengers, a father and daughter (not a party to this action), are presumed to have drowned and their bodies have not yet been found. The survivors suffered and array, of injuries and losses, caused by the crash and the clumsy and unorganized evacuation, which left many without life jackets, instructions or the proper egress from the ship. Since the crash, Louis Cruise Lines has been sluggish in its response and has suggested it is only willing to pay passengers a nominal amount for their loss, injuries and distress. To date, Globus has also failed to make full and timely payments under the insurance policy purchased by each group member or to otherwise compensate the victims. Plaintiffs' complaints seek compensatory and punitive damages against Louis Cruise Lines and Globus for their respective negligence and gross negligence. Plaintiffs have also sued Globus for consumer fraud and breach of contract.

One of plaintiff's complaints is available online at http://www. krounerlaw. com (http://www. krounerlaw. com). For further information, please contact Jacqueline M. James at jjames @ krounerlaw. com., or at (914) 238-5800.

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