Current:Home > NewsCarnival ruled negligent over cruise where 662 passengers got COVID-19 early in pandemic-LoTradeCoin
Carnival ruled negligent over cruise where 662 passengers got COVID-19 early in pandemic
View Date:2024-12-23 19:32:53
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A cruise operator that failed to cancel a voyage from Sydney that led to a major COVID-19 outbreak was ruled negligent in its duty of care to passengers in an Australian class-action case Wednesday.
The Ruby Princess ocean liner left Sydney on March 8, 2020, with 2,671 passengers aboard for a 13-day cruise to New Zealand but returned in 11 days as Australia’s borders were closing. COVID-19 spread to 663 passengers and claimed 28 lives.
Passenger Susan Karpik was the lead plaintiff in the case against British-American cruise operator Carnival and its subsidiary Princess Cruises, the ship’s owner.
Federal Court Justice Angus Stewart ruled that Carnival had been negligent as defined by Australian consumer law by allowing the cruise to depart in the early months of the pandemic. He said Carnival had a duty to take reasonable care of her health and safety in regard to COVID-19.
“I have found that before the embarkation of passengers on the Ruby Princess for the cruise in question, the respondents knew or ought to have known about the heightened risk of coronavirus infection on the vessel and its potentially lethal consequences and that their procedures for screening passengers and crew members for the virus were unlikely to screen out all infectious individuals,” Stewart said.
Carnival had already experienced outbreaks on its cruises in the previous month aboard the Grand Princess off California and the Diamond Princess off Japan, the judge said.
Carnival had failed to explain why it offered free cancellation for all cruises worldwide leaving from March 9 — the day after the Ruby Princess departed — and suspended all cruises on March 13, he said.
“To the respondents’ knowledge, to proceed with the cruise carried significant risk of a coronavirus outbreak with possible disastrous consequences, yet they proceeded regardless,” Stewart said.
Susan Karpik had sued Carnival for more than 360,000 Australian dollars ($230,000).
However, she was only awarded her out-of-pocket medical expenses of AU$4,423.48 ($2,823.28) for reasons including that the judge did not accept she suffered from long COVID and that Carnival had refunded all the passengers’ fares.
But she said she was happy with the outcome.
“I was very pleased with that finding. And I hope the other passengers are pleased with that finding too,” she told reporters outside court.
“I hope the finding brings some comfort to them because they’ve all been through the mill and back,” she added.
Her lawyer Vicky Antzoulatos said other passengers who suffered worse consequences from their sickness could expect larger payouts.
While Susan Karpik’s symptoms were relatively mild, her husband Henry Karpik spent two months in hospital and almost died from his infection.
“Susan’s husband was very catastrophically injured, so we expect that he will have a substantial claim, and that will be the same for a number of the passengers on the ship,” Antzoulatos said.
Each passenger will have to prove their claims unless Carnival agrees to settle, she said.
“It’s been a long time coming and a very comprehensive victory for the passengers on the Ruby Princess,” Antzoulatos said.
Carnival Australia said in a statement it was considering the judgment in detail.
“The pandemic was a difficult time in Australia’s history, and we understand how heartbreaking it was for those affected,” Carnival said.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Amazon Prime Video to stream Diamond Sports' regional networks
- Get ready for transparent TV: Tech giants show off 'glass-like' television screens at CES
- Louisiana’s special session kicks off Monday. Here’s a look at what may be discussed
- 4th person dies following Kodak Center crash on New Year's Day in Rochester, New York
- Satire publication The Onion acquires Alex Jones' Infowars at auction
- Supreme Court to hear case on Starbucks' firing of pro-union baristas
- Hall of Fame NFL coach Tony Dungy says Taylor Swift is part of why fans are 'disenchanted'
- Why Dan Levy Turned Down Ken Role in Barbie
- Congress is revisiting UFOs: Here's what's happened since last hearing on extraterrestrials
- Days of Our Lives Star Bill Hayes Dead at 98
Ranking
- Fire crews gain greater control over destructive Southern California wildfire
- NFL schedule today: Everything to know about playoff games on Jan. 14
- Bills-Steelers playoff game moved to Monday amid forecast for dangerous winter weather
- How Rozzie Bound Co-Op in Massachusetts builds community one book at a time
- Multi-State Offshore Wind Pact Weakened After Connecticut Sits Out First Selection
- Man wrongfully convicted of sexual assault gets $1.75 million after 35 years in prison
- Finneas says working with sister Billie Eilish requires total vulnerability
- Thousands at Saturday 'March for Gaza' in Washington DC call for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
Recommendation
-
In an AP interview, the next Los Angeles DA says he’ll go after low-level nonviolent crimes
-
Families of hostages held in Gaza for 100 days hold 24-hour rally, beg government to bring them home
-
'Wait Wait' for January 13, 2024: With Not My Job guest Jason Isbell
-
Worried about losing in 2024, Iowa’s Republican voters are less interested in talking about abortion
-
Steelers shoot for the moon ball, but will offense hold up or wilt in brutal final stretch?
-
Emma Stone says she applies to be on Jeopardy! every year: That's my dream
-
From a ludicrously capacious bag to fake sausages: ‘Succession’ props draw luxe prices
-
Virginia woman cancels hair appointment when she wins $2 million playing Powerball