Royal Caribbean failed to get a new trial over a wrongful death case last week. The major cruse line tried to get a federal judge in Florida to grant them a new trial. However, the judge did not see things the same way they did. After all, a jury did find Royal Caribbean liable for the death of a 70-year-old man. This occurred when a Mr. Puchalski started to show signs of heart issues onboard the ship. At the time, the ship was docked in Juneau, Alaska. The elderly man went to see the onboard doctor, to make sure he was fine. The physician that took care of Mr. Puchalski said he was in good health. Later that night, Puchalski died of a heart attack.
Puchalski’s daughter then sued the cruise company. She claims that if given the proper care, her father would have survived his heart attack. The jury agreed and found the cruise line to be 70% liable for the man’s death, while the doctor was 30% liable. Out of the $4.8 million reward, Caribbean will pay $3.4m.
Attorneys for the cruise line claim that the victim’s daughter unfairly tainted the jury. They claim the victim painted a theme that the company was trying to hide the truth. The judge disagreed with this. Lawyers for the victim’s family are confident that if Royal Caribbean tries to delay further, the judge’s decision will still be affirmed.
Wrongful Death Litigation
A wrongful death claim is substantially different than a normal personal injury case. Due to the complexities surrounding the burden of proof, it is important to have an attorney that is experienced with navigating the case law that is required to successfully present a case. Whereas with a personal injury case, the soft records of the injury can be used to provide documentation of the damages, in a wrongful death claim that type of documentation is not as easy to obtain. Having an attorney that can fight for the appropriate amount of compensation to assist the living beneficiaries with life after the person’s death is something that takes skill, compassion, and knowledge of the law.
If you have questions about filing a wrongful death claim, finding the right representation is essential. Our team of attorneys has vast experience in wrongful death claims. We will do everything that we can to get the best possible result for the family members left behind. Call Thee Texas Law Guns at our San Antonio office or contact us online for a consultation so that we can show you how our expertise can work for you.
The Villarreal & Begum, LAW GUNS dedicates their time and effort towards helping people in Texas find justice for personal negligence encountered while living their normal, everyday lives.