It looks like the final straw has been drawn in this case. It most likely came when Royal Caribbean released the photo of the Grandfather dangling the toddler out of the window... the guilty plea deal allows the Grandfather to avoid jail time.
“The Puerto Rico Department of Justice has diligently prosecuted the charges against Salvatore Anello in order to bring justice to Chloe’s unfortunate death,” Puerto Rico Attorney General Dennise Longo Quiñones said in a statement. She said that Anello filed a motion Monday afternoon stating his intention to plead guilty and asking for a hearing date when the court might accept the plea.
“Anello’s decision to so proceed is wholly within his discretion and will become binding only upon his appearing before the court to voluntarily plead guilty,” the statement said. |
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Yeah, nothing really more to say than that.
Yep. A situation where a tragic accident happens and nobody wins.
The family now says they just want to grieve the loss of the child. Does that mean they postponed their grief by focusing on holding Royal Caribbean accountable?
Horrible accident. That's really the long and short of it.
The family hired a lawyer the very next day of the death and was doing interviews that same week. Interviews that embellished or flat out lied about what happened.
The family now says they just want to grieve the loss of the child. Does that mean they postponed their grief by focusing on holding Royal Caribbean accountable?
You're missing an important part of this. The family still considers Royal Caribbean responsible. They haven't dropped the lawsuit. They're still arguing that Royal Caribbean was in the wrong. Apparently, if you want to be lift a toddler up over a guardrail meant to protect individuals from dying a horrible death, that should be your god-given right. They are arguing that there should not have been an open window there at all. Curious what they think of sun decks.
The main reason suits get settled is so unfavorable press doesn't get aired - but in this situation, with no wrongdoing taking place, with video of the Grandfather dangling the child, and with the false accusation levied against the cruise line, they were right to dig in on this.
Heck, I'd even think they have a great case for a counter-suit, but they likely will not pursue that - and still get called a greedy Corporate entity by some.
I remember the initial thread on this and several posters were saying they should pay up just because they are a large company and profitable.
Would this plea deal impact this civil litigation?
I feel for them.
I feel for them.
I'm not a psychologist or a grief counselor, but I don't think that's how grief works. I would believe that by holding on to this lawsuit, they aren't actually trying not to let her go but more to blame someone else for the tragedy of their own family member. It's easier to accept a tragedy, especially one so mindbogglingly crazy, when you can blame the big bad corporate entity than one of your family member, who loved the child. It's easier to make the faceless entity the villain than the child's own grandfather.
The main reason suits get settled is so unfavorable press doesn't get aired - but in this situation, with no wrongdoing taking place, with video of the Grandfather dangling the child, and with the false accusation levied against the cruise line, they were right to dig in on this.
Heck, I'd even think they have a great case for a counter-suit, but they likely will not pursue that - and still get called a greedy Corporate entity by some.
I remember the initial thread on this and several posters were saying they should pay up just because they are a large company and profitable.
Yep...that is the history of maritime law - it is always the company's fault and the burden of proof is low. Many times it truly is the company's fault - dangerous conditions, lapse of repair, etc. This is one instance that I don't see the ship's fault. Open windows above a safety railing, are not unsafe. Veranda's do not have windows outboard.
There will be some grasping and hoping but it would be unwise for RCCL to settle which could then be construed as admitting fault. A bad president.
Of course. But when we are in denial about something so tragic, forcing RCCL to settle or even have the jury award you the damages validate your idea that it was still the fault of the "other" entity and not your own family member. We do crazy things when we are in denial, no matter how clear the evidence is. And in this case, only other explanation is that the family is out to profit, which is just too hard to accept even by the most cynical of observer. So the best explanation is that they are still trying to deflect the blame from their family to the big corporation, that "set up a dangerous environment."
Man...you're one cynical motherf'er...lol
None of us who haven't been through such a tragedy know how we would handle it, but I'd like to think I'd be more rational about it and not lash out by blaming people who weren't at fault.
None of us who haven't been through such a tragedy know how we would handle it, but I'd like to think I'd be more rational about it and not lash out by blaming people who weren't at fault.
Have you dealt with other parents? Man, talk about a total lack of ability to accept accountability. If parents can't accept the fact that they suck as parents and that their kids are little assholes at school, then why would you ever think that people will be able to look honestly and accept the fact that their trusted family member was a total idiotic asshole, who basically killed their daughter with his stupidity? People have more than a strong ability to deflect any form of accountability on themselves or their loved ones by blaming others...it happens every single day.
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But I just can't believe that they aren't dropping the lawsuit now that it's been conclusively proven that their child died not because of any negligence on the part of Royal Caribbean, but because her grandfather held her over a railing 100+ feet in the air.
None of us who haven't been through such a tragedy know how we would handle it, but I'd like to think I'd be more rational about it and not lash out by blaming people who weren't at fault.
Have you dealt with other parents? Man, talk about a total lack of ability to accept accountability. If parents can't accept the fact that they suck as parents and that their kids are little assholes at school, then why would you ever think that people will be able to look honestly and accept the fact that their trusted family member was a total idiotic asshole, who basically killed their daughter with his stupidity? People have more than a strong ability to deflect any form of accountability on themselves or their loved ones by blaming others...it happens every single day.
+1 .... and you can believe the parents got ‘objective’ legal advice too ...LOL
p.s.--I haven't followed this story. What happened? The grandfather dangled the child out the window and accidentally let go?
2) I never thought Royal Caribbean should entertain a settlement. After the video and other evidence was revealed, I feel even more strongly about that.
The guy should be charged with manslaughter at the very least
I'm sure that's already being done on all cruise lines but I agree with your point about looking for meaning
I never went along with the merits of the lawsuit but I don't like to be judgmental because who knows how much of their actions weren't/aren't directly because of the grief. There has to be a tremendous amount of guilt from all of them and the grandfather and his daughters will never have the same relationship again as it's been forever altered.
Someone should have counseled them to take time alone to grieve before they reacted publicly. There actions have only made things harder for them which is sad.