by Spencer Aronfeld | Oct 23, 2018 | Cruise Ship Accidents, Uncategorized
The consumption of alcohol is common on cruise ships, but in excess the consequences can be deadly. A federal judge has found ‘ample evidence’ that Royal Caribbean Ltd. provided too much alcohol to a passenger who fell overboard from the cruise ship, Independence of the Seas, right before Christmas 2016. The case will be decided by a jury as to whether Royal Caribbean is responsible for the death of a 22-year-old passenger from Omaha, Nebraska, who was a on a cruise with his parents when he fell overboard from the 12th deck around 2:00 a.m. The ship was returning from a 4-night Caribbean cruise which departed from Port Everglades, FL. The order cited that Nathan Skokan was served at least 30 ounces of alcohol in the 12 hours before he died, “including six full-sized martinis at a martini-making class earlier in the day and at least seven vodkas, two vodkas mixed with Red Bull, and one cognac.” Skokan’s blood-alcohol level was at least 0.256 percent, which an expert testified “presented an extreme risk of harm.” The order stated, “Even though eyewitnesses immediately notified cruise personnel that Nathan had fallen overboard from the 12th-floor deck,” the cruise line “did not lower the rescue boats until two hours after being notified; did not have its Rescue Team 2 ready for over an hour and a half after Rescue Team 1 was ready; and placed its crew members approximately 100 feet above the water during the night, without additional use of search-and-rescue techniques.” Todd and Lisa Skokan, the parents of Nathan, filed suit against Royal Caribbean in U.S. District Court claiming that...
