RSSJudge Dismisses Amended George Smith Family Law Suit again Against Royal Caribbean … Its no Hagel-Smith Settlement
A Miami judge, Judge Jon Gordon, dismissed the amended law suit “with prejudice” that was
filed by the parents and sister of missing George Smith against Royal Caribbean. A previous law suit had been dismissed as well. What a fine precedent this sets for future families of cruise ship crime. Is it any wonder why so many crimes aboard cruise ships go unsolved.
The Smith family sued Royal Caribbean stating that they tried to cover up the incident of George Smith’s disappearance. Royal Caribbean, the Miami based Cruise ship company has stated that they had exceeded their legal requirements in dealing with the missing George Smith.
The FBI is still investigating. Smith’s parents and sister alleged in their lawsuit that the cruise company tried to cover up the incident to avoid liability and negative publicity.
Royal Caribbean representatives have said the cruise line exceeded its legal requirements when it contacted the FBI and other authorities immediately after learning about Smith’s disappearance. (Forbes)
Judge Jon Gordon had dismissed this law suit with prejudice which means the law suit cannot be re-filed; however, it can be appealed. The Smith family attorney, Brett Rivkind, said that they would appeal the ruling.
“We think the decision is not well-reasoned,” Rivkind said. “We’re confident an appeal court will conclude that the conduct that has been alleged is sufficient to rise to a level of outrageous conduct. A jury should decide.” (Boston Globe)
It is rather peculiar that in a day and age with all the frivolous law suits that are allowed to go forward in the US and Florida that this case is dismissed? Dismissed with prejudice in fact. This would appear to be the type of case that a jury should hear, not a judge’s single ruling. If the Smith family is stating that Royal Caribbean performed “outrageous conduct” and Royal Caribbean thinks they exceeded its legal requirement, then what does Royal Caribbean have to fear by going to trial? Just another cover up at all cost in the name of the tourist dollar. Its a shame what happens to common families when they try to find out what has happened to their missing loved ones when tourism is involved.
The case of missing Honeymooner, George Allen Smith, goes beyond a legal one for Royal Caribbean. It is as much a PR battle as anything. Interesting that Royal Caribbean was fine with making an over one million dollar cash settlement with the wife of George Smith, Jennifer Hagel Smith, but wants no part of actually going to trial with this case. Royal Caribbean would pay off Jennifer Hagel-Smith, but not want to defend in court their position. Instead they cower behind a judge’s dismissal ruling.
What an example this sets for future families of missing people and crimes aboard cruise 
ships, “You better settle or else”. So families have no recourse against the billion dollar cruise industry? There is supposed to be no justice? Only monetary pay-off settlements to protect their precious tourism. Families that stand up and say to the cruise lines … we do not want your money … we want answers … are then punished. THAT’S JUSTICE???
Royal Caribbean agreed this month to pay more than $1 million to Smith’s estate. His widow accepted the deal, but his parents and sister dismissed it as a “sellout.”
Maybe the next time anyone things of going on vacation or going on a cruise you may want to remember the following words from Royal Caribbean representatives as this is what they think of all of us, “the cruise line exceeded its legal requirements”. Key word is “requirement”. Not that they cared to really help or get to the bottom of why one of their passengers was missing with a blood stain below his cabin. Only that they met the bare minimum of what was required. Exceeded? Hardly.
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE
Posted January 18, 2007 by Scared Monkeys Business, Crime, Cruise Ship, George Allen Smith IV, Jennifer Hagel Smith, Judicial, Missing Persons | 21 comments |
13 Year Old Girl Sexually Assaulted aboard Disney cruise ship, Disney Wonder (Suspect: Lucas George Wicker)
A thirteen year old girl aboard Disney cruise ship, the Disney Wonder, traveling to the 
Bahamas states that she was sexually assaulted. The 13 year old states that the man threatened to throw her overboard if she refused him. The accused man is presently jailed in the Bahamas.
The 13-year-old was on a four-night cruise to the Bahamas on Disney Wonder when the incident occurred, she said.
She said a man approached her, telling her that he wanted to show her something. She told authorities that she refused his offer and the man threatened to throw her overboard. (Florida Today)
Disney cruise lines released the following statement:
“Safety and security of our guests is our highest priority, and we immediately contacted the FBI about the situation.”
UPDATE: The suspect was a 21 year old passenger from New York, Lucas George Wicker. Wicker is behind bars in The Bahamas and is awaiting arraignment on sexual assault charges.
Posted January 5, 2007 by Scared Monkeys Child Welfare, Crime, Cruise Ship, Sex Offender, Travel | 16 comments |
Royal Caribbean “Freedom of the Seas” Sick Again with Norovirus
What’s worse than one outbreak of the norovirus on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship? How about a second out break aboard the same ship on consecutive cruises? Correction … this is actually the third consecutive cruise that someone became ill. That is exactly what happened on Monday when the Royal Caribbean “Freedom of the Seas” was held in port for extensive cleaning. The question that needs to be asked is why can’t Royal Caribbean provide a clean and healthy environment for its passengers and crew? Two outbreaks of the norovirus on two consecutive cruises. That is unacceptable. At what point are cruise lines going to change their policies & procedures when dealing with the norovirus, rather than just acting after the fact?
700 Passengers & Crew Sick with norovirus aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines’ Liberty
Carnival Cruise Lines’ Liberty is the latest to be stricken with the norovirus as 700 people, passengers and crew became ill.
The ship left Rome on Nov. 3 with about 2,800 paying passengers and was due to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.
“Within 24 hours of sailing, they had a lot of people sick. It has tapered off considerably over the past couple days,” said David Forney, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (Yahoo News)
Don’t Get Sick Aboard a Crusie Ship … Just ask Yvonne Boike & Nick Panos (Travel Insurance, what Travel Insurance?)
The incredible stories of what can occur on cruise ships continue. If a cruise ship vacation is 
without incident, one needs to consider themselves luck. Such was not the case for Yvonne Boike and her fianci, Nick Panos.
It all started when Nick Panos woke up six days into his cruise sick to his stomach and coughing up blood. Little did he realize that it would get worse, much worse. Vacation planning can no longer be taken for granted.
Panos asked if they could delay until the cruise reached Greece, where he had friends.
No, said the doctor.
They asked whether Boike could remain aboard since she wasn’t sick.
She couldn’t.
