A lawsuit has been filed against Royal Caribbean because of an incident aboard Monarch of the Seas in September 2005 when a toxic gas leak onboard killed three and injured several crew members. The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean knew about the gas leak and believes that Royal Caribbean endangered the lives of thousands of passengers and numerous employees by continuing to operate the unsafe vessel for several months before completing the repairs.
Florida trial attorney John H. “Jack” Hickey filed the lawsuit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court this week.
“Royal Caribbean engaged in gross misconduct so reckless that it constituted a conscious disregard or indifference to the life, safety, or rights of every single person on that ship,” said Hickey who is representing former Staff Captain Bjoern Eidissen of Norway in legal action against RCCL. “There were indications that hazardous conditions were building on the ship for several months, even before the leak, but the company never warned passengers and staff about the presence of harmful toxic gases.
The accident occurred in the Port of Los Angeles in September 2005 when according to the complaint, Royal Caribbean failed to maintain the permanent ballast tanks onboard the ship. These tanks, which contain mixtures of gray water, puper water and sea water, creates hydrogen sulfide that with prolonged exposure can result in severe brain and lung damage while a high concentration can cause death.
