Cruise Ship Rape Lawyers

Nation’s Leading Law Firm in Handling Cruise Ship Rape and Sexual Assault Cases

There is a hidden epidemic going on at sea where far too many passengers and crewmembers are being raped and sexually assaulted at sea.  In large part, we have dedicated our law practice to fighting for the rights of these victims and to raising public awareness about this crisis on the high seas.  Our firm has handled in excess of 1000 cruise ship rape and sexual assault cases, more than any other attorney or firm in the country.

Our cruise ship rape attorneys at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. have 19 full time lawyers on staff available to help victims from our headquarters in Miami, FL, or from one of our 7 office locations across the country. We first began advocating for victim’s rights back in 1971. In our 50+ years of legal advocacy, we have handled more than 3,000 cases and counting. Our team has successfully recovered over $500 for our clients through insurance settlements and verdicts at trial. Four of our attorneys have been selected as “Best Lawyers” ® while the firm has been chosen as one of the “Best Law Firms” ® in the nation by US News & World Report every year as far back as 2016.

Our Attorney TV Appearances Covering Cruise Ship Rape Cases

We understand how overwhelming this devastating time in your life must be and how you may be unsure of the steps to take to demand justice. Several of our cruise ship injury lawyers often appear as expert guests on maritime and cruise ship claims for some of the country’s most respected news and TV show programs.

View More TV Appearances

Successfully Handled Over 1,000 Cruise Ship Rape Cases

1. Confidential- Cruise Passenger Rape and Sexual Assault

   A female cruise employee was showering in the female bathroom when she was sexually assaulted and raped by male crewmember.
   The Plaintiff, while a passenger aboard Defendant’s ship, was sexually assaulted by a crewmember employed by Defendant. After dinner service, the Plaintiff was having a drink with the maitre’ D when he sexually assaulted her. As a result of the attack, she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The parties settled for an undisclosed amount. Settlement Amounts Confidential *Due to a confidentiality agreement, the name of the plaintiff, the cruise line, and the settlement amount have not been mentioned even though the confidentiality agreements only apply to the amount of the settlement.

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2. Confidential- Cruise Passenger Sexual Assault Claim 14 Year Old Girl

   A young girl was raped and sexual assaulted by a bar waiter.

   Cruise Passenger Sexual Assault Claim

   14-year-old girl passenger was raped and sexually assaulted by a bar waiter employed by Defendant. The waiter dragged the girl into the ship's pantry while she was walking alone on an open deck at night. The bar waiter pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. The parties settled for an undisclosed amount.
   Settlement Amounts Confidential *Due to a confidentiality agreement, the name of the plaintiff, the cruise line, and the settlement amount have not been mentioned even though the confidentiality agreements only apply to the amount of the settlement.

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3. Confidential- Cruise Passenger Sexual Assault Claim Steward Assault

   Two passengers were sexually assaulted in their cabin by steward.

   Cruise Passenger Sexual Assault Claim

   Two passengers celebrating their birthdays were sexually assaulted in their cabin by a steward employed by Defendant. The steward entered Plaintiffs’ cabin while they were taking an afternoon nap. When Plaintiffs woke up, the steward was sexually assaulting them. The parties settled for an undisclosed amount. Settlement Amounts Confidential *Due to a confidentiality agreement, the name of the plaintiff, the cruise line, and the settlement amount have not been mentioned even though the confidentiality agreements only apply to the amount of the settlement.

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4. Confidential- Cruise Passenger Sexual Assault Claim Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

   A passenger was sexually assaulted by a crewmember during dinner service.
   The Plaintiff, while a passenger aboard Defendant's ship, was sexually assaulted by a crewmember employed by Defendant. After dinner service, the Plaintiff was having a drink with the maitre' D when he sexually assaulted her. As a result of the attack, she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The parties settled for an undisclosed amount. Settlement Amounts Confidential *Due to a confidentiality agreement, the name of the plaintiff, the cruise line, and the settlement amount have not been mentioned even though the confidentiality agreements only apply to the amount of the settlement.

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Our Firm is Responsible for the Landmark Appellate Opinion in a Cruise Ship Rape Case Which will Help Countless Passengers Obtain Relief from the Cruise Lines

Appellate Opinion in K.T. vs Royal Caribbean Cruises, LTD

For literally decades, the maritime attorneys at LM&W argued that the cruise line could be held responsible for passenger rape and sexual assault based on arguing the cruise line’s failure to warn of the known dangers of rapes and sexual assault at sea. In July of 2019, LM&W obtained a landmark appellate decision that requires every cruise line to warn passengers about the risk of rapes and sexual assaults on their vessels. LM&W obtained this landmark Appellate Court decision in a case where our client, a teenage girl, was raped while aboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. The Appellate Court found that cruise lines have a duty to warn passengers about the risk of rapes and sexual assaults on cruise ships. This critically important decision shines a much-needed light on the hidden epidemic of rapes and sexual assault on cruise ships.

Although most cruises do go off without any unplanned events, the truth is that accidents and injuries can take place when you least expect it–even at sea. At the top of the list of common cruise ship crimes are rape and sexual assault. Therefore, it is important for all cruise passengers to understand the process for reporting rape or sexual assault should either of those incidents occur while you are on your vacation. As a maritime law firm experienced in handling a variety of rapeon cruise ships and cases involving sexual assault on cruise ships, we can safely explain exactly what you need to know.

Represented Rape Cases Against Some of the Largest Cruise Lines in the World

Hiring Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. is the clear decision when it comes to working with a law firm that is experienced, aggressive, and confident enough to take your case as far as it needs to go. We are here to fight for your rights and will keep fighting until the case is resolved.

Our Cruise Ship Rape Verdicts, Settlements and Awards

Cruise Passenger Sexual Assault Claim: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Plaintiff, while a passenger aboard the Defendant’s ship, was sexually assaulted by a crew member employed by the Defendant. After dinner service, the Plaintiff was having a drink with the maître d when he sexually assaulted her. As a result of the attack, she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The parties settled for an undisclosed amount.

Here are some other notable cases handled by Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.:

• Carnival Cruise Line Rape
• Carnival Cruise Line Child Rape Case
• Woman alleges rape on a cruise ship
• PE woman tells of rape ordeal on luxury liner
• Woman can sue Royal Caribbean over alleged gang rape on Oasis of the Seas
• SA woman hires US firm to pursue rape case
• Jamie’s Story: A Cruise Rape Victim speaks out
• Cruise Passenger Says Ship Employee Raped Her

Tips for Staying Safe from Assault on Cruise Ships

Here are a few tips to remember:

1. Stay Vigilant

For some cruisers, the fact that they are riding the waters with hundreds of other excited vacationers might give them a false sense of camaraderie while enjoying their own little “floating city.” But individuals should act in the same manner they would if they were visiting an unfamiliar town. Safety, along with enjoyment, should always be at the forefront of travelers’ minds.

Maritime Law Requires Reporting of Sexual Crimes

The number one crime reported on cruise ships is sexual assault, yet victims seldom obtain justice for their pain and suffering. Despite the fact that the event may take place at sea, and in some cases, in a foreign legal jurisdiction, it is safe to say that, from a legal standpoint, a sexual assault on a cruise ship is a crime. Ocean liners have a responsibility under maritime law not only to provide a reasonably safe shipboard environment for all guests and crew members, but they are also required to report serious crimes to the FBI, especially sexual crimes. But despite the laws that are in effect, few companies actually follow them.

What Do You Do if You Have Experienced Rape or Sexual Assault on a Cruise Ship?

Passenger Rights on a Cruise Ship

As a passenger on a cruise ship, you have rights and it is critically important that you immediately speak to an experienced attorney to protect those rights. If you are a U.S. citizen, then the FBI has jurisdiction and they should be immediately notified of the cruise ship assault. The additional rights of a victim have stemmed from Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS), the Passenger Bill of Rights, and the “Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act” of 2010 that President Barack Obama signed into law, which compels all cruise line companies to report cruise ship sexual assaults—whereas they had previously been able to avoid disclosing certain cases because of international law specifications. Because there are a number of various laws at issue, this is why it is imperative to consult an experienced maritime attorney to protect you.

It is important that you have an attorney who can help you unravel the complexities of local laws, maritime law, passenger rights, and more. Working with a maritime attorney is the best way to ensure that your legal representation is competent and experienced with the specifics of this situation, which can be significantly different from a sexual assault that takes place on land.

Determining the Types of Cruise Ship Sexual Assault

Countries like the Bahamas, Panama, and Liberia compete for cruise ships to register with them because it means incoming revenue. In an effort to look most appealing, these countries loosely regulate what happens onboard the cruise ships. They often turn a blind eye to crimes and the rape culture that happens at sea in an effort to get more business.

How Attorneys Calculate Recovery and Damages After Cruise Ship Rape

Once we have established fault and liability for the assault that you were the victim of, the next step is to determine how we will move forward in seeking compensation and recovering damages for your suffering. Simply put, we will seek to compensate the victim financially for what has been done to them. There are many different things that we consider while building this part of our case, and we will then work aggressively to seek a successful resolution with the cruise lines.

In light of the fact that we have successfully represented more than 1000 victims of cruise ship rapes and sexual assaults, the cruise lines know that we mean business.

Why Attorneys Use Visual Aids in Cruise Ship Rape Trials

Part of the thinking process is visual conception, and visual aids reinforce key points and eliminate the need for the audience or jury to imagine the scene. Pictures and diagrams are concrete and leave no room for imagination, which makes them a valuable tool in the courtroom. The following are a few ways our lawyers use visual aids.

Settlement Compensation for Cruise Ship Sexual Assault and Rape

In order to calculate the compensation that you truly deserve, we will need to look at this situation like any other civil case and consider both the economic and non-economic impacts of your injuries.

You may also be able to seek damages from the perpetrator, as well. In order to make sense of the options in your particular case, contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin to work through the details of the situation. It is extremely important that you consult with a maritime lawyer before agreeing to any sort of settlement, either with the cruise line or the individual perpetrator. While it may make sense to settle the case without a lawsuit, you deserve to have your settlement negotiated in order to get you the money that you deserve, NOT just what the cruise line hopes to spend.

Suing Cruise Ships for Rape and Sexual Assault Onboard

We will help you through initial negotiations and establish the basis of your case before moving forward with anything. As mentioned before, we will need to understand all of the details and your available options before determining the most appropriate course of action to seek justice for your case.

To sue a cruise ship, we will need to go through all of the legal provisions and details pertaining to the company, your passenger ticket, and more. As an example, different cruise lines require you to file any case in a certain location such as Miami, Los Angeles or Seattle. Fortunately, we have attorneys licensed to.

Establishing Legal Liability: Key Theories in Cruise Ship Sexual Assault Cases

Common legal theories our Florida cruise ship rape attorneys use to establish legal liability include:

Negligent Hiring and Negligent Training of Ship Crew

Our Florida cruise ship rape attorneys often establish liability through claims of negligent hiring and training. Cruise lines have a responsibility to thoroughly vet their employees, ensuring that crew members and security personnel are qualified and trustworthy. When a cruise line fails to conduct adequate background checks or provides insufficient training on handling sensitive situations, they can be held liable for any resulting harm to passengers.

Failing to Conduct Routine Sex Offenders Background Checks

Cruise lines are obligated to ensure the safety of their passengers by conducting thorough background checks on all employees, particularly those in positions of authority or proximity to guests. When cruise lines neglect to perform these essential checks, they may inadvertently allow individuals with a history of sexual offenses to work on board, increasing the risk of assault. Our attorneys utilize this legal theory to hold cruise lines accountable for their failure to protect passengers from known dangers.

Failing to Maintain or Implement a Ship Security Plan

A comprehensive security plan is vital for ensuring passenger safety aboard cruise ships. When cruise lines fail to implement or maintain effective security measures, they leave passengers vulnerable to criminal acts, including sexual assault. Our legal team investigates whether the cruise line had a security plan in place and if it was adequately executed, seeking justice for victims harmed due to these oversights.

Negligent Supervision During Youth Programming Activities

Cruise lines often provide youth programming to entertain younger passengers while their parents relax, but they must also ensure that these activities are supervised appropriately. Negligent supervision can lead to dangerous situations, exposing children to potential predators. Our attorneys advocate for victims who have lived a nightmare by demonstrating that the cruise line failed to provide adequate oversight, which directly contributed to the harm endured during these activities.

Failing to Patrol or Monitor High Traffic Areas

High traffic and common areas on cruise ships, such as lounges, pools, restrooms, and hallways, should be regularly monitored to deter criminal activity. When cruise lines fail to implement adequate patrols or surveillance in these areas, they effectively create opportunities for assaults to occur. Our legal team uses this failure in court, arguing that the cruise line’s negligence directly contributed to the victim’s experience.

Negligently Failing to Monitor Passenger Corridors

Passenger corridors are often less monitored than public areas, making them potential hotspots for criminal activity. Cruise lines have a duty to ensure these areas are adequately supervised to prevent assaults. Our attorneys use this legal theory to argue that the cruise line’s negligence in monitoring these corridors allowed for the attack to occur, establishing a direct link between their lack of oversight and the victim’s suffering.

Failure to Staff or Deploy a Sufficient Number of Security Personnel

Adequate security staffing is essential for maintaining a safe environment on cruise ships. When cruise lines fail to deploy enough security personnel, they increase the risk of criminal acts occurring without intervention. Our legal team holds cruise lines accountable for insufficient security measures, demonstrating that their lack of staffing directly contributed to the victim’s vulnerability.

Failing to Provide Adequate Crime Deterrence

Effective crime deterrence strategies are crucial for passenger safety on cruise ships. This includes visible security presence, surveillance cameras, and clear protocols for reporting incidents. When cruise lines neglect to implement these deterrents, they fail to protect their passengers adequately. Our attorneys argue that this negligence creates an environment conducive to criminal behavior, which can lead to tragic outcomes for victims.

Allowing the Consumption or Sale of Alcohol to Minors

Cruise lines have a legal and ethical obligation to prevent the consumption and sale of alcohol to minors. When they fail to enforce these laws, they not only expose young passengers to potential harm but also create situations where intoxication can lead to increased vulnerability to assault. Our legal team pursues claims against cruise lines that disregard these responsibilities, emphasizing the direct link between their negligence and the victim’s experience.

Rape, Voyeurism, and Sexual Assault by Crew Members

Incidents of rape, voyeurism, and sexual assault by crew members represent a severe breach of trust and safety aboard cruise ships. When crew members exploit their positions to harm passengers, cruise lines can be held liable for failing to prevent such incidents. Our attorneys work diligently to hold these companies accountable, ensuring that victims receive the justice and compensation they deserve for the trauma they have endured.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are just a few common questions that we can help you answer following a cruise ship rape. However, keep in mind that the specific answer depends on the situation, and the best way to reach a conclusive answer is to work directly with the team at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.