Lawsuit launched against the owners of the coronavirus-riddled Ruby Princess cruise ship after 22 of its passengers died from COVID-19
- The doomed Ruby Princess cruise has been linked to 600 coronavirus cases
- Lawyers have launched a class action against the ship's owners and operators
- Lawsuit will argue the groups knew about the risks and didn't protect passengers
Ruby Princess passengers and their families are taking legal action over a deadly coronavirus outbreak on board the ill-fated cruise ship.
Shine Lawyers on Friday announced a class action suit against Carnival Plc and Princess Cruise Lines Ltd over their handling of COVID-19 cases on the ship, which disembarked in Sydney on March 19.
The law firm is seeking compensation through the federal court on behalf of passengers and their families.
The 2,700 passengers were allowed to depart the Ruby Princess despite suspected coronavirus cases on board, with 600 passengers later testing positive.
So far, 22 passengers have died.
A lawsuit has been launched against the owners and operators of the Ruby Princess cruise ship after 22 of its passengers died. (pictured, the ship docked in Sydney Harbour in March)
It comes as a NSW special commission of inquiry examines the circumstances surrounding the cruise.
Vicky Antzoulatos from Shine Lawyers said the class action would allege the defendants breached consumer guarantees, engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and failed in their duty of care to provide a safe cruise.
Share this article
'We say the owner and operator knew of the risks that passengers may contract coronavirus before the ship left and they failed to take steps to ensure their passengers were safe and protected,' Ms Antzoulatos said in a statement on Friday.
Ruby Princess passenger Graeme Lake lost his wife Karla (pictured, together) to coronavirus after returning home from the cruise and said her death 'broke him' and his children
'People on board the ship trusted Carnival to do the right thing but they were not told about the risk of coronavirus and some paid the ultimate price for it.'
Class action group member Graeme Lake's wife Karla died from coronavirus ten days after returning home from the cruise.
'It broke me, it broke the kids, and she didn't deserve it,' Mr Lake said in the same statement.
'Karla went on that cruise to celebrate her 75th birthday and what happened to her has destroyed us.'
The lawsuit will argue the owners and operators knew about the risks and failed to protect their passengers (pictured, passengers leaving the ship)
Princess Cruises in a statement on Friday said they had 'the utmost respect for our guests and understand the worldwide impact of COVID-19 including on some of our guests, crew members and their families'.
'The NSW special commission of inquiry, in which we are participating, is in the process of establishing the facts in relation to Ruby Princess. It is not our intention to respond to the assertions of class action lawyers,' the company said.
The special commission of inquiry has concluded and is set to report back by mid-August.
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
