Lawsuits filed in Costa Concordia wreck

(CBS/AP) 

MIAMI — Six Costa Concordia passengers have filed lawsuits in U.S. federal court in Miami seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

The lawsuit filed Friday seeking $460 million in damages names Costa Cruise Lines and its parent company Carnival Corp. Both companies have offices in South Florida.

The attorney representing the six passengers told The Miami Herald that the stress of the disaster off Italy's coast will never leave many of the passengers.

Costa has said it will reimburse passengers for travel expenses and medical expenses. The company is also offering uninjured passengers about $14,460 each to compensate for lost luggage and psychological trauma.

On Friday, the first known lawsuit by one of the Concordia's crew members, Gary Lobaton of Peru, was filed in Chicago federal court, accusing Carnival and Costa of negligence because of an unsafe evacuation, and is seeking class-action status.

Cruise passengers offered $14K compensation
Cruise passengers offered $14K compensation

In Italy, some consumer groups have already signed on as injured parties in the criminal case against the Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, who is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all those aboard were evacuated.

Schettino, who is under house arrest, deviated from the ship's charted course to bring the Concordia closer to Giglio, gashing the hull on a reef a few hundred meters offshore. He has said the reef wasn't on his nautical charts.

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[Goofer-Buddy]

I will take the cash, I was a stow-away that got off safely.

[Jhihmoac]

Knew these were coming...just not this fast...

[endrepubs]

For many people, winning a lawsuit is the only way to riches.

[Goofer-Buddy]

That's a long way from 14 thousand dollars... How about splitting the difference and calling it a day?

[PourpaixPourpaix]

Maybe I'll sue them myself ..... damages for emotional trauma having to read about the stump-stupid captain and how he's a hero for gutting his ship on the rocks, then was one of the first to bail out.

[hypnotoad72]

I should sue this country because half its people are incapable of thinking, and most of its politicians prey on that weakness (combined with emotional melodrama to assist)...

[Transatlantique]

This is outrageous. When these people boarded this ship, did they not read their passage agreement? They have to take responsibility for their choice because they are on a floating piece of steel in an ocean. Did they think that the possibility of sinking or trauma was impossible? I've crossed the Atlantic 8 times with Cunard, and always realised that I could run into serious trouble, especially with 30 foot swells in January, but less likely so on real ocean liners for which QE2 and QM2 are. They are built and run differently than cruise ships. It was my choice and my responsibility to do so. If I had been in a disaster, then why should I be compensated millions?

These plaintiffs are simply trying to get more money than they deserve, and just how would millions of dollars compensate for a "lifetime of trauma?" If they win, expect your fares on Carnival ships to increase. But of course the plaintiffs will be able to take as many trips as they want on their private yachts.

[hypnotoad72]

I can't wait until you're caught in the middle due to somebody else's gross negligence.

You'll be mewling a different tune, then.

Not to sound like a republican, but whatever happened to personal responsibility, taking care and pride in one's work, and doing a good job?

Lawsuits are supposed to help diminish these possibilities.

[retiredgustav]

I wouldn't put it past Carnival to take this entity into bankruptcy just to avoid the cost of Lawsuits. I wonder if the lawyers are telling their client that possibility.

[hypnotoad72]

Agreed. Our society has become so low and sickening that what you suggest would be a valid possibility.

[mach1ponie]

I've been on about 20 cruises - my favorite vacation past time. They were supposed to be having the time of their life, memories that will last a life time. Well they got them. I watched Titanic the other day... so very scary. The psychological trauma is real and will stay with them. They deserve compensation.

14k is a joke. But millions?

If you're reading this, and you are one of the people going for millions... you just lost my sympathy.

[billmelater59]

Agreed but its just sonme scum sucking attorney who stands to gain 30% or more of that

[hypnotoad72]

"Pastime".