Cruise Ship Lawyers Blog
A Royal Caribbean passenger who is accused of verbally attacking the crew and kicking at a door on board has died while detained by the cruise ship’s security.
Michael Virgil, 35, has been identified as the passenger who died on Dec. 13 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. He was traveling with his fiancé and 7-year-old son.
The incident happened about an hour after the ship left from the port of San Pedro, near Los Angeles, California. Cell phone footage of Virgil that has gained traction online shows him attempting to kick down a door, trying to get at one of the crew members.
One passenger who witnessed the incident told reporters that Virgil appeared to be drunk and had injured both crew members before one of them was able to lock themselves inside the towel room.
Security was able to place Virgil in custody and allegedly had to use zip ties, handcuffs and bear or pepper spray to do so, according to reporting from FOX 11. Virgil’s family told reporters security gave him a sedative. An hour later, he died.
Additional details, including what prompted the attack or his cause of death have yet to be released.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a 48-year-old law firm with a hub in Miami, just a half hour drive from PortMiami, the largest cruise passenger port. In nearly five decades, the firm has represented hundreds of cruise ship victims in medical malpractice, premises liability and negligent security cases. In all, Leesfield & Partners has secured well over $40 million for passengers and crew members injured aboard ships.
As a common carrier, cruise ships have a non-delegable duty to ensure the safety of all on board, including passengers and crew. While this duty of care might seem clear, Leesfield & Partners have seen countless times how cruise lines will attempt to escape this responsibility.
One case handled by the firm involved a mother and daughter who purchased a parasailing excursion offered while the two were aboard the ship. What should have been an exciting and unforgettable memory shared between the two quickly became a nightmare. When the two were sent up in the air, the rope connecting them to the boat snapped due to heavy winds.
The two rapidly plunged toward the water, the force of which killed the mother and caused severe injuries to the daughter.
Leesfield & Partners secured a combined settlement of $7.25 million for the women’s families.
Previous Cases
Cruise ships have become “floating cities” in recent years, according to Leesfield & Partners’ Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield. In that time, as the industry experiences rapid growth and continues to recover following shutdowns experienced during COVID-19, ships have developed more daring and extreme amenities to compete with one another. These amenities, featured on ships that are able to carry more people than ever before, include experiences like twisting water slides, escape rooms, rock climbing walls and go-kart tracks.
With more experiences, excursions, alcohol and people on board than ever before, the possibility of potential injury is significantly increased. Despite these advancements, however, Mr. Leesfield told reporters with the Daily Business Review, cruise ships continue to have “lax policing.” In addition to a lack of policing on board, crew members are not adequately trained.
One disturbing case previously handled by Leesfield & Partners involved a crew member who used his employee status to enter the room of a Canadian woman and rape her.
The firm secured a confidential settlement in that case.
Similarly, another employee on a cruise line used his employee key card to enter the rooms of unsuspecting passengers and plant hidden cameras to film them in their private bathrooms. Those filmed included both adults and minors. The employee in that case was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison and
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Leesfield & Partners Trial Lawyer, is handling that case.
Another Leesfield & Partners client was brutally attacked after he was descended upon by a violent group on a ship.
Other Leesfield & Partners Negligent Security Cases
Leesfield & Partners previously secured $1 million for a Key West hotel housekeeper who was raped while on the job.
A clerk at a shopping mall was raped and robbed while at work. Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured $1.13 million in that case.
An unaccompanied minor who was meant to be under the supervision of flight attendants while traveling on an unnamed airline was sexually assaulted by another passenger.
A confidential recovery was obtained for the child in that case.
The firm secured a $750,000 award for a client injured during a negligent security incident at a Florida convenience store.
Another client injured during a shooting at a gas station was awarded $675,000 thanks to the work of Leesfield & Partners attorneys.
A client injured at a bank was awarded $3 million following the harrowing incident.
