Costa Concordia Disaster: Passengers Plan Class Action Suit

As the search of the capsized Costa Concordia is suspended, passengers from across the world are planning a class action lawsuit against the cruise line.

The ship, which was carrying 4,200 passengers, ran aground on Friday off the coast of Italy. So far 11 bodies have been recovered; 29 people are still missing.

Consumer rights organization Codacons told the Herald Sun, "Over 70 passengers who were on board the ship have joined the class action suit initiated by our association. Our objective is to get each passenger at least 10,000 euros compensation for material damage and also for ... the fear suffered, the holidays ruined and the serious risks endured," he said.

Similarly, a French couple named Patrice and Tatiana Vecchi are collecting signatures to join their suit against the tour operator for "failure to help people in danger, putting in danger the lives of others, involuntary homicide and lack of security information," their lawyer, Frederic Casanova, told the GMA Network. Patrice Vecchi told the site, "The emergency procedure was launched too late. It was completely confusing. It is not normal that several among us were unable to find any life jackets while the crew was equipped. And once we were off the ship, Costa completely disappeared. We saved ourselves."

While it may be too early to tell how much the disaster will cost the industry, analysts have estimated that claims could total around $500 million.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Comments

[CMR1188]

02:32 AM on 01/19/2012

10,000 euro?? If this were an American ship sailing on American water I can assure you those passengers would be going for hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

[CMR1188]

02:33 AM on 01/19/2012

each.

[david25luvit]

05:38 PM on 01/18/2012

A class action lawsuit is a mistake.... The lawyers walk away with most of the money. These people deserve whatever a jury gives them for being deserted by their captain. Makes you wonder if the captain was drinking or on drugs? Maybe he's a coward but I suspect there's another reason why he fled....

[DaughterOfAKing]

09:18 PM on 01/18/2012

Honestly, I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to be in the Captains shoes. And honestly, I couldn't tell you what I would have done in this situation. Everyone calls him a coward but I tend to wonder what they would have done if they were him at that very moment. They can say they would have stayed to help and see this through but would they have really. None of us will really know. I also believe the class action lawsuit is a mistake. I think the Captain must be held accountable but if he has any compassion, which I truly believe he does, I can't begin to imagine what he is feeling inside knowing that lives were lost at his hands. Guilt can really torture the soul. My prayers go out to everyone involved even this Captain.

[Ronster1954]

05:27 PM on 01/18/2012

and only the lawyers will get the majority of the money....they are the sharks in the water

[tom8626]

05:13 PM on 01/18/2012

I don't claim to be an expert in legal matters, I was told, class action law suites are not the best way for indiviguals to proceed.

[kimcrdr]

04:55 PM on 01/18/2012

Of course this was going to happen, I just wonder how many more will file suit, they deserve every penny they get and more for having such a spineless coward as a captain!!!!!!

[beachbunni307]

04:36 PM on 01/18/2012

Unfortunately, I think we all expected this....I was just wondered when it would start.

[hpycmpr155]

06:14 PM on 01/18/2012

Unfortunately??
I think this is one of the times when a class action suit is valid.
All 4200 people on board that ship should join in.
They deserved better than what they got.........a terrifying disaster that cost innocent lives.

[lhclu]

04:04 PM on 01/23/2012

anyone who suffered more than just the fright of drowning should consider filing his or her personal lawsuit for punitive and compensatory damages !

[tuco60]

04:11 PM on 01/18/2012

Ultimately it's future passengers who will pay the price for this incident. Carnival isn't about to take a huge loss without building the loss into future ticket prices. The money has to come from somewhere.

[tom8626]

05:15 PM on 01/18/2012

As I understand it, it will be their insurace companies, each ship has more than one. They are saying total losses will be $500,000 to 1 billion.

[2Start1]

03:55 PM on 01/18/2012

The only persons who make out in a class action suit are the greedy attorneys. As soon as the news hit there were hundreds of drooling lawyers looking to make a fast million.

[doinka]

03:14 PM on 01/18/2012

Can the International Court of Justice figure in this or can there only be lawsuits filed in Italy???

[hifliangel]

03:07 PM on 01/18/2012

Judgement Proof--I don't know the answer? I would include Carnival in the Class Action and go as deep into their pockets as the law will allow. I could care less if it bankrupt them. I feel the responsibility is theirs--at least for the safety of whom they are carrying on their vessel. They seem to feel they can go out and acquire all their competitors, suck up all the luxury cruisers and rake in outragious profits with no concern for their paying passenger? The law will have to be unraveled to see who get's what!

[2Start1]

03:57 PM on 01/18/2012

You're they tyoe of person that has caused all consumers to pay more just so companies can cover future suits. I am sick and tired of attorneys making millions off of other peoples miseries. And, people making millions from their owh stupidity.

[hpycmpr155]

06:16 PM on 01/18/2012

I don't think this was the result of people's stupidity.
They did NOT bargain for this.
All 4200 on board that ship should take part in a class action suit.
More power to them.

[2Start1]

08:14 AM on 01/19/2012

I didn't say these people were stupid. This was a tragedy that the people should be compensated for. However, in a class action suit the attorneys will make millions and the poor victims will get little in comparison. The judgement is split among all those in the suit, after the attorneys take their sixable cut. The more in the suit, the more the attorneys get, and the less the victims get.

[superultralib]

02:51 PM on 01/18/2012

Here come the ambulance chasers. Lawyers are such a greedy bunch. Vultures could take lessons from the attorneys.

[NewLiberals]

02:51 PM on 01/18/2012

How do you say Shark in Italian?

[trulyli]

09:15 PM on 01/18/2012

IL squalo mascalzone !

[scubarjh]

02:45 PM on 01/18/2012

They'll get the money reguardless what ever the max is just to settle things. But if they do the class action suit, eiher they pay the lawyer or the lawyer will get his cut. One thing for sure, the lawyers are not there to help anyone but themselves. The law already sets what you can sue for and that's it

[tribeffl3]

02:43 PM on 01/18/2012

While I do believe the passengers are due compensation ( values would be different i.e - injury versus loss of life etc..) it's sad to me that lawyers are already descending upon this and will be having a feeding frenzy. Too bad companies don't treat people fairly and offer legitimate settlements without the need for legal representation.

[huntingtreasures]

02:40 PM on 01/18/2012

It is not normal that several among us were unable to find any life jackets
There in the room you sleep in. When I went on a cruse right after we left port we had a safty meeting everyone had to show up and bring your life jacket with you to make sure they knew you could but it on properly.

[skimecoop]

04:40 PM on 01/18/2012

I assume since the Captain sunk the ship he would have been responsible for the safety drill also, that did not happen.

[huntingtreasures]

05:21 PM on 01/18/2012

The captain does not do the drills he orchestrates them there is a crew mate on each deck and 1 for each muster station

For example, during your first day at sea, all passengers participate in a safety drill. During this drill you retrieve your life jacket from your cabin, and follow instructions on how you should get to your muster station.

This cruise safety drill is important in the very unlikely event of an emergency. You learn how to properly wear and secure your life jacket.

Have you figured out the meaning of muster station?

The term muster station refers to where you must assemble, and your cabin assignment determines your muster station. If the need arise, this is your location for departing the ship. This location is important for a few reasons that you will discover during the safety drill.

The primary reason for assigning muster stations of course is to ensure that everyone is able to get a seat in one of the lifeboats.