law
17 Dec 2019

Whakaari eruption: Cruise company may be liable for compensation - lawyer

From Checkpoint, 6:08 pm on 17 December 2019

A US maritime lawyer say the cruise company whose passenger were on Whakaari White Island when it erupted could be liable for millions of dollars in compensation - if it or the tour company failed to properly warn sightseers of the risks.

Jim Walker, who specialises in cruise law says any injured passenger from Ovation of the Seas, or the families of those killed, can sue the parent company Royal Caribbean in a Miami Court as specified in the cruise company's terms and conditions.

That is regardless of where the accident happened or the nationality of the victims.

Mr Walker tells Lisa Owen any claim of negligence will focus on what warnings sightseers to the volcano were given.