Baby Fell Off Cruise Ship Window

Toddler's Death on Royal Caribbean Ship: Court Revives Lawsuit

Grandfather Cleared of Negligence

Background to the Case

In July 2019, 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand fell to her death from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The toddler slipped through an open window while her grandfather was holding her. The family filed a lawsuit against the cruise line, alleging that the window was defective and should have been closed.

Court's Decision

Yesterday, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal reversed a lower court's ruling and allowed the lawsuit to proceed. The court found that there was sufficient evidence to support the family's claim that Royal Caribbean was negligent. The court also ruled that the grandfather, Salvatore Anello, was not negligent in holding his granddaughter. The court noted that Anello was not aware of the open window and had taken steps to prevent his granddaughter from falling.

Conclusion

The court's decision is a significant victory for the Wiegand family. It allows them to pursue their lawsuit against Royal Caribbean and seek compensation for Chloe's death. The case also raises important questions about the safety of cruise ships and the responsibility of cruise lines to protect their passengers.