Lawsuits Filed Against Costa Concordia Cruise Liner

Miami, FLOne day before divers found the 17th body in the wreckage of the Costa Concordia cruise liner, at Giglio island, Italy two US law firms and a consumer group filed a maritime class-action lawsuit in the US demanding at least $160,000 for each passenger.

All uninjured passengers who were aboard the cruise ship when it hit underwater rocks were offered about $14,500 each by Costa Crociere, the owner of the ship and part of the Carnival Group, but only on condition that they do participate in any legal action. More than 4,200 passengers had to abandon ship.

The complaint, which was filed in state court in Miami, names four Americans and two Italians as plaintiffs, according to Bloomberg. The complaint alleges that the plaintiffs were “in terror of catastrophic injury, death, drowning, having been placed in a situation where common sense said the vessel was sinking but the orders from the crew were to return to their cabins.”

On January 26, a Costa Concordia crew member also filed a complaint. Gary Lobaton filed a complaint in federal court in Chicago seeking at least $100 million in damages. Lobaton is seeking class-action status to represent all the victims of the disaster.

Meanwhile, the captain of the ship has been accused of manslaughter and placed under house arrest and the crash is under investigation.