1: The High Volume of Lawsuits Against the Cruise Line Industry

The American Legal Record Podcast

Chris Dickerson, editor of the Florida Record, joins the American Legal Record Podcast to discuss a recent story on the high volume of lawsuits filed against the cruise line industry.

The discussion centers around the recent Florida Record story, written by Michael Carroll, "Cruise line injury lawsuits don't appear to be cutting into industry profits, attorneys say."

In addition to serving as editor of the Florida Record, Dickerson is the editor of the West Virginia Record and has been a reporter and editor with The Record family of legal journals since 2005.

Key points from this episode include:

• Cruise Industry Lawsuits: The discussion highlights that there are 20 to 25 lawsuits filed weekly against major cruise line companies in South Florida. These lawsuits are primarily slip and fall cases, which constitute about 90% of the cases. Despite the high number of lawsuits, they don't significantly impact the cruise lines' bottom lines.

• Common Types of Lawsuits: The most common lawsuits against cruise lines are slip and fall cases, often occurring on the pool deck or in passengers' suites.

• Financial Impact on Cruise Lines: Despite the high volume of lawsuits, these don't seem to significantly affect the cruise lines' financial health. This is attributed to the cruise lines' expectations of a certain number of lawsuits as a cost of doing business.

• Insurance and Legal Defense: Cruise lines have robust insurance policies and experienced attorneys, which helps them manage these lawsuits effectively.

• Ticket Prices and Lawsuit Costs: The cost of lawsuits and insurance might contribute to rising ticket prices, but this increase is generally in line with overall inflation and other cost increases.

• Statute of Limitations and Settlements: For cruise ship injuries, there is a one-year statute of limitations. Many cases are settled before reaching court, and settlements often focus on tangible losses like medical expenses and lost wages, rather than non-monetary damages like pain and suffering.

• Jurisdiction and Legal Challenges: Most cruise ship companies are based in Miami, Florida, making it the primary jurisdiction for filing lawsuits. The legal process is streamlined due to the expertise of attorneys on both sides.

• Death on High Seas Act: This act limits awards to monetary losses and doesn't allow for claims of pain and suffering or mental anguish in cases of death on cruise ships.

• Excursions and Third-Party Liability: Lawsuits related to excursions are common, with cruise lines often being sued as they contract these third-party service providers.

The conversation provides a detailed insight into the legal challenges and frameworks surrounding the cruise industry, particularly in the context of personal injury and related lawsuits.