A lawsuit that involves the tragic death of a toddler on a Royal Caribbean cruise has been revived by a United States court. This development highlights the ongoing legal battle faced by the company in relation to this unfortunate incident.
The incident in question occurred when an 18-month-old girl, Chloe Wiegand, fell from an open window on the 11th deck of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas ship in July 2019. The young child’s grandfather had been holding her near the window when she unexpectedly slipped from his grasp and plunged to her death.
Initially, a Puerto Rican judge had dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Chloe’s parents, Alan and Kimberly Wiegand, against Royal Caribbean. However, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has now ruled to revive the case, providing a glimmer of hope for the grieving family.
The basis for the lawsuit centers around the allegation that Royal Caribbean was negligent in maintaining a safe environment for its passengers, particularly regarding the design of the ship’s windows. The Wiegand family contends that the open windows create a hazardous condition, especially for young children who could easily fall through them.
Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, maintains that the accident was solely due to the negligence of Chloe’s grandfather. They argue that he leaned out of the window before tragically losing his grip on the toddler. The cruise line asserts that it holds no responsibility for the incident and that the windows comply with industry standards.
This legal battle has captured significant attention and sparked debate over the responsibilities of both cruise companies and passengers in ensuring onboard safety. It also raises questions about the adequacy of safety measures implemented by cruise lines to prevent such accidents from occurring.
While Royal Caribbean has faced previous lawsuits related to onboard incidents, this particular case has garnered additional scrutiny due to the involvement of a young child. The court’s decision to revive the lawsuit brings renewed focus to the matter and the potential implications it may have for the cruise line.
The grieving Wiegand family hopes that their legal pursuit will result in justice for Chloe and bring about changes in safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. Their determination to hold Royal Caribbean accountable serves as a reminder of the profound impact such incidents can have on families and the need for companies to prioritize passenger safety above all else.
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this case could potentially influence the cruise industry’s approach to window design and safety measures. It remains to be seen how the courts will ultimately rule and what ramifications this will have for both Royal Caribbean and the wider cruise industry.
