Widow sues Disney Cruise Line in man's death

[crazy4wdw]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Widow sues Disney Cruise Line in man's death
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
January 26, 2008

A widow from New York has sued Disney Cruse Line in federal court, blaming the company for her husband's death from injuries he suffered during a Mediterranean cruise last summer.

Marilyn Piazza alleges that her husband, Santo L. Piazza, died because a poorly designed threshold in a bathroom doorway caused him to fall; because the ship's medical staff initially misdiagnosed his injuries; and because efforts to evacuate him to a hospital for emergency medical treatment were slow, and poorly planned and executed. Santo Piazza died Aug. 14 at age 78.

Marilyn Piazza filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of her husband's estate in U.S. District Court in Orlando. Her complaint identifies the cruise line's corporate entity, Magical Cruise Co. Ltd., and Disney Cruise Vacations as defendants. She alleges that they were responsible for Santo Piazza's death, and her suit seeks more than $75,000.

Her complaint states that her husband was injured at the beginning of an 11-day cruise out of Barcelona, Spain, aboard the Disney Magic. Marilyn and Santa Piazza were taking the cruise with their daughter and her family.

The suit says that Santo Piazza tripped on the threshold as he stepped into his cabin's bathroom. He fell, and his right side struck the bathtub, causing "catastrophic internal injuries."

He immediately went to the shipboard health-services department, where he was given a Tylenol. Later that day, he returned to the health-services department after he vomited and experienced shortness of breath and severe pain.

During his second evaluation, the ship's doctor diagnosed him with fractured ribs and a punctured lung, and said Santo Piazza required immediate evacuation and hospitalization.

The suit alleges that the Piazzas waited five hours before the Disney Magic altered its course toward Cagliari, Sardinia. Then ship personnel put the injured man in an inflatable raft and transported him through eight miles of choppy waves to the shore, "crashing and smashing Mr. Piazza up and down constantly."

Santo Piazza died from his injuries 17 days later, according to the complaint.

A Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman would not comment.

 

[cmash95]

SOunds like some lawyer got ahold of a grieving widow. and unfortunately disney will settle with her. but he died 17 days later? there must have been something else involved after all he was 78 years old.

 

[rocketriter]

The ship might have managed things very badly. Tylenol for a fractured rib and punctured lung? Bouncing a 79-year-old with physical injuries on a ocean raft? Don't rush to blame the lawyers on this situation.

 

[episode]

The ship might have managed things very badly. Tylenol for a fractured rib and punctured lung?

Something seems wrong there. If this had happened to me, and I was in a lot of pain, I wouldn't have left when they had simply given me a Tylenol. I would have insisted on a more in depth evaluation. Maybe the deceased didn't speak english, thats the only thing I can think of. He had to know how much pain he was in, and I can't understand why he would be satisfied with a Tylenol.

Bouncing a 79-year-old with physical injuries on a ocean raft?

If the locals don't have a helicopter to come get him, how else would they get him to shore?

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'm wondering what a "poorly designed threshold" might be???
Or was he simply not watching where he was going???

 

[wardfamily1]

Even if threshold was designed properly and the man just fell, he shouldn't have been turned away. Broken Ribs and a punctured lung? I don't usually agree with people that sue big business because most of the stories you hear about are from people looking to get rich quick. But IF the story on this thread is true and we are in fact getting the 'whole story' here, she deserves a lot more than 75k.

 

[problemchild718]

broken ribs don't always look alot different than a bad contusion and a punctured lung can be severe-as in the lung empties right away and you are struggling or it can be a small leak which would take hours to demonstrate symptoms. we also don't know if the option was given to them to leave the ship for an xray and they initially refused.

 

[canwegosoon]

Not only that -but sometimes a ship has to get to were it can be reached by medical assistance. I know fishermen that have to live with broken limbs or other serious injuries(impalments rtc) until they get to a certain point on the NE coastline where they can get assistance.

 

[G8RFAN]

Does Disney's infirmary have x-ray capabilities? Hairline fractures are not easily recognizable. Anyway, this is standard slip and fall stuff Disney sees regularly. Not sure how this being in international or foreign waters and the ship registry probably flagged in the Bahamas plays a part in U.S. jurisdiction.

 

[TinkerBrie]

A raft? Are you kidding me?

 

[patman]

I'm wondering what a "poorly designed threshold" might be???
Or was he simply not watching where he was going???

a poorly designed threshold would be one with a 90 degree edge that could catch a shoe instead of one with a 15 degree slope that could not catch a shoe.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I've been checking the Cruise Boards to see if there have been previous complaints about poor threshold design, threshold tripping accidents, etc,
Found none.
Never been on a cruise myself, but it sounds as tho a bathroom threshold is something you expect to have on a ship(?)