South Florida Couple Files Lawsuit Against Princess Cruises Over Coronavirus Pandemic

A South Florida couple who were aboard Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess have filed a lawsuit against the cruise line based on allegations of negligence.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic struck multiple cruise ships in a major way, and Princess Cruises had multiple ships where passengers and crew members fell ill with the virus. The Grand Princess was destined for Mexico when it soon became clear that the trip would not go as planned.

In an account published in The New Yorker, one crew member aboard the Grand Princess described watching the madness steadily unfold, alleging that:

• Crew members and cruise line leadership were aware that another Princess Cruises vessel, The Diamond Princess, had been quarantined in the South Pacific because of the threat of the coronavirus.
• While steps were taken to minimize crew-to-passenger contact, neither crew nor passengers were initially told that they could be at risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
• Crew members were told that passengers who had been aboard the previous voyage had tested positive for COVID-19, yet passengers were still not informed of the threat of the virus on the Grand Princess.

Among the passengers put at risk of contracting the coronavirus while on the Grand Princess were Ronald and Eva Weissberger. Their daughter, attorney Debi Chalik of Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, was appalled at the risk that faced not only her parents but all the passengers on the Grand Princess.

Passengers and Crew Members Are Suing Princess Cruises

Ronald and Eva Weissberger became the first couple to file a lawsuit against Princess Cruises over the coronavirus pandemic when Chalik filed a lawsuit on their behalf on March 9th, 2020, according to USA Today. In addition to her parents, Chalik has accommodated the requests of at least 34 clients who chose to join in litigation against Princess Cruises, the article added.

Passengers and crew members may have grounds to bring a lawsuit against Princess Cruises based on:

• The cruise line’s failure to disclose to passengers and crew members that at least one person on the previous voyage had departed the ship with coronavirus-like symptoms, in doing so exposing passengers to risk that they were not informed of
• Failure by Princess Cruises to properly sanitize the cruise based on the fact that a previous passenger tested positive for and ultimately died of coronavirus
• The fact that Princess Cruises leadership had dealt with a previous vessel’s coronavirus outbreak (The Diamond Princess) yet did not take adequate measures to protect passengers or crew on The Grand Princess from a similar outbreak
• The fact that approximately 1,100 crew members and 68 passengers were aboard the ship with an individual who proved to have the coronavirus stayed on the ship for a subsequent voyage, yet Princess Cruises took no precautions to quarantine any of these individuals

Passengers who were aboard The Grand Princess or another cruise ship impacted by the coronavirus may seek various awards for damages they have incurred. Some types of compensation that passengers or crew members may be able to recover include:

• Pain and suffering that comes from being exposed to the risk of the coronavirus, infected by the coronavirus, or losing a loved one because of the coronavirus
• Medical expenses caused by coronavirus infection
• Income you lost because of extended time on a cruise ship that was related to the coronavirus
• Losses related to the death of a loved one
• Any other losses you sustained that are in some way related to a coronavirus outbreak on a cruise ship you were aboard

The team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers encourages you to reach out if you would like assistance with a coronavirus cruise ship lawsuit.

Call Our Team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Today

Our team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers has a direct familial connection to the coronavirus that makes us personally invested in every client’s coronavirus case. If you or your loved one were on a cruise ship where a coronavirus outbreak occurred, then we may be able to represent you in a lawsuit.

Call our team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today at (855) 529-0269 for a free consultation.