|
|
Blinded in attack from Iran, seaman awarded $1 million | The Miami Herald |
By David Lyons, Herald Business Writer
The Miami Herald
A Philippine seaman, blinded by an Iranian missile attack on his ship in Kuwaiti waters, was awarded $1.2 million by a federal judge in Miami in Friday, 14 months after he sued the Tehran government for damages.
Now the trick is to collect it.
Victorino Gonzaga, 34, was a lookout on the reflagged Kuwaiti tanker Sea Isle City when the vessel was struck by a Chinese-made Silk-worm missile. Eighteen people, including the ship's American captain, were wounded in the October 16, 1987 attack.
Besides granting the $1.2 million for Gonzaga, U.S. District Judge Thomas Scott awarded $500,000 to the seaman's wife, Lucita. The couple lives in the Philippines with their two children.
Miami attorney Charles Lipcon filed the suit on the family's behalf after Gonzaga was brought to South Florida for treatment at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
The suit also named the Kuwait Tanker Co., Kuwait Petroleum Corp., Gleneagle Ship Management Co. Inc. and Chesapeake Shipping, Inc. They were the vessels owners and operators.
The suit alleged that the firms allowed the vessel to sail unprotected into a "known war zone, which represented a high degree of risk of armed attack from Iran."
At the time, Iran was embroiled in the war with Iraq that ended last year.
Lipcon said he reached an out-of-court settlement with the companies for $725,000. Michael Moore, and attorney for the firms agreed that a deal had been reached but refused to confirm the amount.
Moore said his clients still claim the court in Miami had no jurisdiction because the events occurred half way around the world.
Lipcon conceded it would be difficult to collect from the Iranians. The United States has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since the hostage crises in 1979-80.
None of the Iranian government's representatives appeared in court, even though Lipcon served papers through three different channels.
Lipcon said he is exploring a number of possibilities to recover the money due the Gonzagas.
"I understand Iran has several lawsuits going in the U.S.", Lipcon said. "If they win, we can garnish the award." Another way to go is to a third country such as Germany, that by treaty enforces legal judgments awarded by American courts.
|
|
The Attorney Who Never Loses | Selecta Magazine |
|
| $965 injury claim leads to $3.5 million jury award |
South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
|
| $6.1 million awarded in case of seaman killed on cruise ship |
The Sun-Sentinel |
|
|
Accidents aboard ships do happen, but not very often | Miami Herald |
|
|
Colin Farrell's personal dresser from Miami Vice suing production company | A Current Affair |
|
|
Cruise lines adding cell service | A Current Affair |
|
|
Cruise workers' health a concern | Florida Today |
|
|
A Current Affair special 1: Missing cruise passenger George Smith | A Current Affair |
|
|
A Current Affair special 2: Cruise Ship Rape & Sexual Assaults | A Current Affair |
|
|
A Current Affair special 3: Crime on the High Seas | A Current Affair |
|
|
A Current Affair special 4: Crime on Cruise Ships | A Current Affair |
|
|
|
Blinded in attack from Iran, seaman awarded $1 million | The Miami Herald |
|
|
Carnival Cruise employee arrested on sex charge | St. Petersburg Times |
|
|
Carnival Cruises Sued by Family of Wisconsin Woman Who Disappeared | USA TODAY |
|
|
Carroll jury awards $2.5 million | Canton Ohio Newspaper |
|
|
Cause of Ship's Blast Still Unclear | The Miami Herald |
|
| Chaplain's Corner |
The Seafarer |
|
| Charles Lipcon interviewed on Sky Radio for American Airlines. |
 |
|
| Charles Lipcon on George Smith Case |
Scarborough Country |
|
| Charles Lipcon on George Smith Case |
Scarborough Country |
|
| Charles Lipcon interviewed live on MSNBC regarding Congressional investigation of George Smith case |
Scarborough Country |
|
| Charles Lipcon on George Smith Case |
Heartland With John Kasich |
|
| Charles Lipcon on George Smith Case |
Big Story Weekend Edition |
|
| Charles Lipcon on George Smith Case |
MSNBC News Live |
|
| Crewmen Work in Fear of Being Fired, Deported |
Sun-Sentinel |
|
| Crime Rocks The Boats |
TIME Magazine |
|
| Cruise execs: Crime concerns overblown |
Florida Today |
|
|
Cruise Line Crime | Court TV |
|
| Cruise line faces revived lawsuit |
Orlando Sentinel |
|
| Cruise liners no luxury for crew as long hours, low wages prevail |
The Sun-Sentinel |
|
|
Cruise lines liable for MDs - Court rules against Carnival | The Miami Herald |
|
|
CRUISE LINES: Missing cruise cases spur calls for scrutiny | The Miami Herald |
|
| Cruise lines operate under layers of laws - Vessels fly different flags; rules complex across seas |
The Miami Herald |
|
|
Cruise Lines Responsible for Medical Malpractice to Passengers | Press Release |
|
|
Cruiseline Sexual Assaults on FOX News | FOX 11 News |
|
|
CRUISE SAFETY: If you use your head, you couldn't be any place safer | The Miami Herald |
|
|
Cruise workers must endure long hours for others' leisure | Houston Chronicle |
|
|
Cruise Passenger Says Ship Employee Raped Her | South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
|
|
Cruises...Hot Vacations...Cold Truth / Cruise Ship Crimes | FOX26 NEWS |
|
|
Fee Lawsuits Filed Against Cruise Lines | Herald.com |
|
|
Fortune Awaits Sailor Being Held in Cuban Jail | The Miami Herald |
|
| For Charles Lipcon, business has never been better |
Miami Herald |
|
|
Health Care Often Misses the Boat | The Miami Herald |
|
|
Hope's Story | A Current Affair |
|
|
Hope's Story | A Current Affair |
|
| How to take steps to make your cruise safer |
The Sun-Sentinel |
|
| Injured seaman wins $25.8 million award |
The Miami Herald |
|
|
Jamie's Story: A Cruise Rape Victim speaks out | A Current Affair |
|
Jane's Story | A Current Affair |
|
|
Jason Margulies And The George Smith Case | MSNBC News Live |
|
|
Jury relives last minutes of doomed JAL 747 flight | The Seattle Times |
|
| Kin of woman missing on cruise sue Carnival |
Miami Herald |
|
| Lawsuits filed over 'First Strikes' |
Numismatic News |
|
| Lawyers turn cruise lawsuits into industry |
Miami Herald |
|
|
Lipcon on Geraldo show covering Cruise Passenger Disappearances | Geraldo at Large |
|
|
Lipcon receives award | N. American Maritime Ministry Conference |
|
|
Lipcon.com Receives National Recognition | Law Office Computing |
|
|
Man Disappears From Cruiseship | The O'Reilly Factor |
|
|
Medical Woes Sink Cruise Careers | FloridaToday.com |
|
| Michael Winkleman, Recent Law School Graduate |
|
|
| Missing woman's husband finds hope in lawsuit |
GM Today |
|
| Mizener continues in midst of cruise fight |
Waukesha Freeman (Conley) |
|
| Newfoundland Air Crash |
ATLA Law Reporter |
|
| Norwegian suits to Philippines? Cruise line likely to seek transfer |
The Miami-Herald |
|
| NTSB to investigate cause of Norway blast |
The Miami Herald |
|
|
Parasailing accident investigated |
Bradenton Herald / East Manatee Herald |
|
|
Passenger deaths a cruise concern |
FloridaToday.com |
|
| Rotary Sending Used Pacemakers to Guatemala |
The Miami Herald |
|
| Seaman's family awarded $6 million |
The Miami Herald |
|
| Ship steward's tip income can be included in maintenance and cure |
ATLA Law Reporter |
|
| Some Question Health Care on Cruise Ships |
Associated Press |
|
| SOVEREIGN ISLANDS -- A special report.; Getting Sick on the High Seas: A Question of Accountability
|
The New York Times |
|
| Tensions rise between "Norway" widows, cruise line over lawsuits |
South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
|
| The $25.8 million dollar man - A case without precedent |
Voces/ Miami Mensual |
|
| Video shows passenger going overboard |
Florida Today |
|
| Widow wins suit with cruise line |
The Sun-Sentinel |
|
| Workers alarmed cruisers |
Florida Today |
