Grandfather Sues Carnival Cruise Lines After Toddler Falls to Her Death
Lawsuit Alleges Negligence, Wrongful Death
Background of the Incident
In July 2019, an 18-month-old girl named Chloe Wiegand fell to her death from an open window on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship. The incident occurred while the ship was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The girl's grandfather, Salvator Anello, was holding her at the time of the fall.
Investigation and Lawsuit
Surveillance video footage of the incident shows Anello holding Chloe up to a window that was open about 10 inches. The toddler slipped out of his arms and fell to the concrete deck below. Anello and the girl's parents, Alan and Kimberly Wiegand, have filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines, alleging negligence and wrongful death.
Allegations of Negligence
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival Cruise Lines was negligent in failing to properly secure the window and in failing to provide adequate supervision for children in the area. The Wiegands claim that the open window posed an unreasonable risk of harm and that the cruise line failed to take reasonable steps to prevent a tragedy.
Carnival's Response
Carnival Cruise Lines has denied the allegations of negligence and has said that it will vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit. The company has expressed its condolences to the Wiegand family but has maintained that it is not liable for the girl's death.
Implications
The lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines is likely to have significant implications for the cruise industry. If the Wiegands are successful in their case, it could lead to increased liability for cruise lines for accidents involving children. It could also lead to changes in the way that cruise ships are designed and operated to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
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