Brigette Honaker  |  April 17, 2020

Category: Covid-19

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coronavirus tube testing positive after Princess cruise line infection

According to a recent Princess Cruise lawsuit, the cruise line’s negligence after the COVID-19 outbreak led to a man’s coronavirus-related death.

Plaintiff Susan Dorety and her husband Michael Dorety reportedly celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year.

The lawsuit states that Michael Dorety had served as a firefighter for 39 years and together the couple raised two children.

To celebrate their long and successful marriage, the couple reportedly decided to take a cruise together – leading them to board the Grand Princess Cruise ship out of San Francisco in late February.

Unfortunately, this cruise was later halted and docked in Oakland, Calif. due to a coronavirus outbreak amongst the crew and passengers. While the cruise ship was docked, guests were reportedly confined to their rooms.

Michael Dorety reportedly started to experience symptoms while they were quarantined, leading his wife to seek assistance from the Princess Cruise ship’s doctor. After the doctor confirmed Michael Dorety’s fever, he was reportedly given Tamiflu and Tylenol despite being unresponsive.

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According to the Princess Cruise lawsuit, his symptoms continued to worsen. Three days into his illness, Susan Dorety claims she convinced the cruise line to allow them off the ship so they could see CDC medical personnel. Her husband was then transported to the hospital but she claims it was too late – he was already struggling to stay alive.

“The doctor called Susan Dorety to tell her that her husband was dying,” the Princess Cruise lawsuit states. “Susan Dorety and her children listened as the doctor counted down Michael Dorety’s heartbeats until he was gone. Michael Dorety died alone.”

Even as she was mourning the death of her husband following their 40th wedding anniversary, Susan Dorety was allegedly diagnosed with the same disease that killed her husband.

The plaintiff argues that Princess Cruise was negligent in their “lackadaisical approach” to the Grand Princess COVID-19 outbreak. Their alleged lack of care in regards to the passenger and crew safety caused Michael Dorety’s illness and eventual death, according to the complaint.

“Princess chose to place profits over the safety of its passengers, crew, and the general public in continuing to operate business as usual, despite their knowledge of the actual risk of injury to Susan and Michael Dorety, who are in the age group most susceptible to death from COVID-19,” the Princess Cruise lawsuit claims.

Princess cruise line shipSusan Dorety also argues that Princess Cruise lines was aware that two passengers who had been aboard the Grand Princess’ previous voyage had been diagnosed with the virus.

Despite being aware of these cases and informing previous passengers, Princess Cruise allegedly continued with their next voyage.

Unfortunately, 62 passengers from this previous voyage reportedly stayed on board – exposing new passengers to the virus.

“Due to Princess’ outright negligence in failing to warn Susan and Michael Dorety of the actual risk of exposure to COVID-19 aboard its infected ship, Susan and Michael Dorety were quarantined in their cabin along with the rest of the passengers and crew, off the coast of San Francisco, anxiously awaiting their fate, for over six days,” the Princess Cruise lawsuit argues.

The Princess Cruise lawsuit notes that the cruise line’s Diamond Princess ship was docked outside of Yokohama, Japan after more than 700 passengers were infected with the disease. The cases reportedly followed a “flawed” two-week quarantine by the Princess Cruise line.

“It would only stand to reason, having experienced such a traumatic outbreak on board one of its vessels less than a month prior to the [Feb. 21] voyage that Princess would have learned to take all necessary precautions to keep its passengers, crew, and the general public safe,”

“Unfortunately, Princess did nothing to ensure the safety of its passengers, including Susan Dorety and Michael Dorety.”

The Princess Cruise lawsuit argues that, especially considering the tragic seven deaths resulting from the Diamond Princess outbreak, the cruise line should have been more cautious. The plaintiff also argues the cruise line should have never have allowed the cruise ship to be boarded.

“They should never have loaded that second ship,” Dorety’s lawyer told Law360. “As soon as they found out somebody had died from the virus, they should have unloaded the ship.”

Plaintiff counsel told the news source that Dorety’s lawsuit will be filed as an intervenor complaint in another lawsuit assuming that the court approves the request.

Dorety is represented by Rusty Hardin, Ryan Higgins and Daniel Dutko of Rusty Hardin & Associates LLP, and Gerald Singleton and J. Ross Peabody of Singleton Law Firm APC.

The Princess Cruise Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Dorety v. Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Case No. 2:20-cv-03507, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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