family sues company over death of man who drank 33 drinks

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According to the complaint, when the couple and their 7-year-old autistic son boarded the ship, they were informed the cabin was not ready and were directed to a bar. There, with his father alone, Virgil would have been served on several occasions. When he got drunk, he became disoriented and began searching for the cabin, going into a fit.

In video captured on board, he appears naked from the waist down, kicking in a door and being restrained by security guards. After restraint, the crew, apparently under the captain’s orders, administered an injection of sedative (Haloperidol) and used pepper spray. Shortly after, he was taken to the infirmary, but he did not survive. The cause of death, later classified as homicide, was “mechanical asphyxia, respiratory and cardiopulmonary failure”, aggravated by the consumption of alcohol, sedatives and body compression during restraint.

For the family, the company failed in its obligation to protect passengers. The lawsuit demands compensation for loss of livelihood, medical and funeral expenses, as well as moral damages. The complaint points out that Royal Caribbean promotes unlimited drink packages, one of its main attractions, and ignores obvious signs of intoxication.

The suit was filed Friday in federal court in Miami, where Royal Caribbean, the world’s second-largest cruise line, is based.

According to the lawsuit, common maritime law requires carriers like Royal Caribbean to “supervise and assist passengers who may engage in behavior dangerous to themselves or others.”

The text also clarifies that Royal Caribbean did not exercise its right to stop serving alcohol to Virgil, a measure that could have protected his life. The lawsuit also points out that the ship’s medical professionals did not have the proper training, licensing, experience and skills.