Cruise Ship Sexual Assaults
Many cruise ship passengers choose the night life on the high seas instead of partying out in their home town. Most of the time, the fun and adult play is above board, consensual, and a welcome break from one’s normal routine.
Cruise ships, however, are not immune to some of their passengers and crewmembers committing violent crimes on others including physical and sometimes brutal sexual assaults on fellow passengers. Attorney Manny Arce and his firm has extensive experience in litigating cruise ship sexual assault cases perpetrated by crewmembers or passengers. Our maritime and admiralty lawyers can help you get compensated for this kind of shameful and psychologically devastating crime that should not have happened to you or one of your loved ones.
Up to now, the cruise line industry has tried to hide how often a sexual assault has occurred on their ships and has been reported to the FBI – not to mention the dozens of times it might have happened and not been reported. Unfortunately, the cruise line industry – with 85% of cruise lines companies based in South Florida - has kept from the public almost 97% of “crimes reported by cruise lines to the FBI and the numbers that are disclosed publicly.[i]” The cruise line industry conveniently found a loophole in the 2010 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act changing the language of the act so that “only closed FBI investigations would be included.[ii]”
[i] Hanna Sampson in Miami Herald Jul 24, 2013
[ii] Hanna Sampson in Miami Herald Jul 24, 2013.
What Really Happens:
It is difficult to bring criminal prosecution to sexual assault cases that take place on the high seas. Hence, our cruise ship sexual assault lawyers pursue civil actions for financial damages against cruise ship lines who can be liable for sexual assault committed by an employee against a passenger[i].
The Florida Supreme Court ruled that the state had jurisdiction over certain crimes committed on the high seas.[ii] Federal and State laws assess strict liability on cruise lines for sexual rape and assaults by crewmember on cruise ship passengers. Our experienced cruise ship sexual assault attorneys also have experience handling claims involving sexual assaults by passengers on other passengers. Our firm has successfully brought cases again cruise lines such as:
Canaveral Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Commodore, Costa, Cunard, Disney, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Radisson, Renaissance, Royal Caribbean, Seaborne, SilverSea Cruise Lines and others. Since most cases are settled with little publicity and confidentiality, our experience helps us to deal with and overcome the strategies cruise lines use in these sensitive situations.
[i] STATE OF FLORIDA v. MATTHEW STEPANSKY, 761 So. 2d 1027 (S. Ct. 2000)
[ii] In Naddeau, v. COSTLEY and CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, INC., 634 So. 2d 649 (Fla. App. 4th DCA 1994)
What To Do If You Are a Sexual Assault Victim:
Suffering a sexual assault is one of the most painful experiences a person can endure. Attorney Manny Arce and his firm has worked with numerous victims of cruise ship sexual assaults and has helped these victims seek justice. Manny Arce stands ready to listen to you and help you or a loved one through this trying situation. Do not hesitate to call. He will discuss what the next steps are during a free consultation.
Additional Resources:
Please refer to these websites for what you should do if sexual assault occurs while on a cruise line.
[1] Hanna Sampson in Miami Herald Jul 24, 2013
[1] Hanna Sampson in Miami Herald Jul 24, 2013.
[1] STATE OF FLORIDA v. MATTHEW STEPANSKY, 761 So. 2d 1027 (S. Ct. 2000)
[1] In Naddeau, v. COSTLEY and CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, INC., 634 So. 2d 649 (Fla. App. 4th DCA 1994)