Posts tagged Maritime Accidents

• Cruise Ship Grounded in Alaska

  Mark McLean | July 09, 2007 12:32 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  The Cruise Ship "The Empress of the North" ran aground in Icy Strait near Juneau, Alaska recently. The ship was operated by Majestic America Line out of Seattle. People who sign up for cruise ships usually (and often unwittingly) also sign a contract which includes a "forum selection clause" requiring them to file any claim in a specified place. Seattle is a booming hub of the cruise line...

• Holland America--Passengers, Injuries, Infirmaries and Insurance

  Michael Myers | March 08, 2007 8:14 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  A University of Texas study showed that four in 100 passengers visited shipboard infirmaries. Eighteen percent of those who visited infirmaries had been inured. In a recent interview, Sally van Boheemen, RN and Director of Holland America Line's Fleet Medical Operations, explained that injuries ranged from sprained ankles to broken hips. In addition, passengers often need to leave a ship for...

• Forum Selection Clauses

  Michael Myers | January 03, 2007 9:15 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  A "forum selection clause" is a portion of a contract that specifies where a particular dispute will be litigated. Sometimes these clauses are enforceable. Other times they are not. The Holland America forum selection clause--which makes Seattle the exclusive place to litigate Holland America passenger injury claims--is enforceable. If suit is filed outside the Western District of Washington...

• Holland America Cruise Injuries

  Michael Myers | December 14, 2006 8:57 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Holland America has a number of vessels. They include the following:ms Amsterdam ms Maasdam ms Noordam ms Oosterdam ms Prinsendam ms Rotterdam ms Ryndam ms Statendam ms Veendam ms Volendam ms Westerdam ms Zaandam ms ZuiderdamInjuries on any and all of these ships must be reported in writing to Holland America within six months of the injury or else there will be no recovery. Suit for any...

• Cruise Ships Liable for Negligence by "Independent Contractors"

  Michael Myers | October 29, 2006 1:41 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Historically, courts have held that a cruise line is not liable for the malpractice of the ship's doctor or nurses. Passenger tickets will often purport that doctors and nurses are independent contractors for which the ship disclaims liability.But a couple of recent Florida cases have changed the tide holding that the cruise line is liable. Judges have explained "where a ship's physician is in...

• Water-Skier's Leg Caught in Propeller

  Michael Myers | October 22, 2006 2:11 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  A 12-year-old Pierce County girl was severely injured when her leg was entangled in a boat propeller after she fell while water-skiing in Horsehead Bay, in Carr Inlet. The girl had been skiing behind one boat and was run over by a second boat. Rescuers from the Gig Harbor Fire Department held the girl's head above water for about an hour while divers worked frantically to remove the propeller...

• Boat Driven by Sister Hits Brother

  Michael Myers | October 22, 2006 2:05 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Chandler Balkman is a 16 year old from Issaquah, Washington who would have started his junior year at Issaquah High School; he is also a recent amputee. On August 3, Chandler and his father decided to go swimming in the lake after his lacrosse game. Chandler's sister was driving the family boat on Lake Sammamish, did not see him swimming in the lake and accidentally ran over him. The...

• Cruise Ship Claims Should Be Filed Individually

  Michael Myers | October 14, 2006 8:08 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  A federal judge has denied class-action status in a $100 million negligence lawsuit filed by passengers aboard a cruise ship that was struck by a 70-foot rogue wave last year. In a 20-page decision filed earlier this month, Altonaga said that not all passengers suffered equally in the incident.Even if a number of persons are injured in the same incident aboard a cruise line--like Holland...

• Cruise Ship Passengers Injured During Tour Bus Rollover

  Michael Myers | October 13, 2006 7:45 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Automobile Accidents
  

  Eleven cruise ship passengers were injured Tuesday morning when a Gastineau Guiding tour bus rolled in the rain over an embankment near Last Chance Basin.Almost all of the people had crawled out of the bus when ambulances arrived, nine minutes after the call came in at 8:16 a.m., Mohrmann said. One person, however, had to be lifted out with a basket-like device. The bus had flipped on its side...

• Only One Year to File Suit Against Holland America

  Michael Myers | October 09, 2006 10:06 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  On August 1, 2006 the Western District of Washington held that the one year limitations period contained in Holland America's tickets was fair and reasonably communicated to passengers. This ruling affirms what we have long-suspected. While there may be some room for negotiation when it comes to the six-month limitations period for filing a written claim, the one year limitations period for...