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WILLIS
LAW FIRM
1221 McKinney
Suite #3333
Houston, Texas
TOLL FREE
1(800)883-9858
1(800)468-4878

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| CRUISE SHIP RAPE & SEXUAL
ASSAULT CASES UNDER MARITIME LAW
Cruise ships are becoming an increasingly popular method of vacationing for many
Americans. Unfortunately many find themselves a helpless victim of a sexual assaults
and rapes. Often times these rapes occur in the passengers assigned room with
the use of a pass key, in the walkways, inner corridors,hallways, storage rooms,
closets, poorly lighted areas and restrooms. Those who have been raped may find
themselves confronted with a nightmare of legal hurdles which may prevent them
from receiving any relief for the harm that has been suffered.
Monetary recovery against the cruise line it often governed
by numerous legal hurdles and documents including but
not limited to:
1. Cruise Ticket;
2. Contract of Carriage;
3. Itinerary for Travel;
4. Contract of Motorcar, Carriage, and Transportation Contract;
5. Shortened Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim;
6. Forum selection clause ( the place the suit MUST be brought
);
ie. Miami Florida, Houston Texas, Jamaica, Isle of Congo,......etc;
7. Full and Complete Documentation of the event and injury;
8. Prompt written Notice of the claim as soon after the event
as possible
9. Names of Witnesses to the accident :
10. Does the Jones Act or General Maritime laws apply ? AND
10. A TIMELY FILED CLAIM OR SUIT against the correct entities
in the proper venue.
While not every harm or injury on a cruise ship requires the
assistance of a lawyer, claims concerning serious permanent
injuries, sexual assaults (rape)
and deaths need the immediate attention of a lawyer skilled in the area of
maritime personal injuries. Many of the cases against the cruiseline
industry involve
complex maritime legal issues, contract law, products liability and general
negligence issues. Cruise ship operators and their insurance
carriers aggressively investigate
and defend any claims brought against them. The injured should be well advised
to retain a lawyer to represent their own interests soon after the event,
so as to allow time to adequately investigate the event and
interview potential
witnesses. Cruise ship companies usually will not assist you in the investigation
or even the release of names and addresses of witnesses unless they are compelled
to do so in a court of law.
If you have been sexually assaulted or raped while you were
a passenger on a cruise ship or any other boat or vessel,
then you may have a legal claim
for
monetary damages against the owners and operators of the cruise ship and
others. You must however act quickly.

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If you have been seriously injured while as a member
of the crew of a boat, jack-up rig, tug boat, barge or other marine
ship or vessel, then call us for a Free Confidential Consultation.
Talk to Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with over
20 years of experience. (Click Here)

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If I am injured on a ship, should I give a statement
to my employer ? When should I file a notice of injury report ? Under
the Jones Act, do I have the right to choose my own medical doctor ?
(Click Here)

What does maintenance and cure mean
under the Jones Act ? Under what circumstances can I recover pain & suffering
and loss wages under the Jones Act ? (Click
Here)

What
does it mean for a ship to be unseaworthy ? Under the Jones Act can part
of the ship or vessel be seaworthy and another part unseaworthy? (More)

Under the Jones Act and maritime law, what is the
deadline or Statute of Limitation to file a claim or lawsuit if I was
injured on a ship or vessel ? (More)

What if I am not a Jones Act seaman, but I was injured on a ship, vessel or an offshore oil rig or platform ? Does maritime law still apply ? Can I file a maritime claim or lawsuit to recover for my injuries? (More)

Can I file a Jones Act claim if my loved on has been diagnosed
with asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma from asbestos exposure while
working on a ship or at the shipyard ? (More)
Does maritime law protect me if I was exposed to benzene and later I am
diagnosed with leukemia ? (More)

What if my spouse is killed while at sea? Does the Death
on the High Sea Act (DOHSA) apply to all deaths on ships vessels, helicopters,
and
ships on the high seas?
(More DOHSA info)

What are my legal rights if I have had a previous or old injury but now I have suffered a new injury to my back and neck and may need surgery but the Maritime Insurance company's adjuster says I am not covered and he will not approve it ? Yes, you are covered whether it is aggravation of a old injury or new one, if you were a Jones Act seaman injured on the vessel and the employer was at fault or negligent then you can file a Jones Act lawsuit for any type of injury such as heart attacks, strokes, head injury, brain damage, paralysis, burns, broken bones, paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of an arm or leg, blindness and for emotional trauma or mental anguish, disfigurement, medical expenses and for loss wages or lost earnings in the past and future.
(Jones Act Lawsuit Damages) |
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NOTE: The statements and information provided on this web site are for the informational purposes only. This site is not intended to provide legal advice to the reader and NO attorney-client relationship shall be deemed to arise from the receipt this page and/or its associated pages or any oral or e-mail communication to or from with David Willis or The Willis Law Firm. There will be NO lawsuits filed, claims made, letters or phone calls made for a prospective client, until that person is represented by the firm. An attorney client relationship only arises after the attorney and client have signed a written attorney client agreement, after the attorney has evaluated the background facts provided and has accepted the representation of the client's legal action.
Mr. Willis is a licensed attorney in New York and Texas. Principle office is Houston, Texas.
He is a Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Willis has represented clients in maritime personal injury, barge accidents, boating accidents, transports, crew boats, diving accidents, rig workers, injuries in river, lakes, canals, ICC, wrongful death lawsuits, oilfield accidents, oilrig accidents, tankers, shrimp boats, fishing vessels, tug boats, push boats, auto accident, explosions, crane accidents, rollover, asbestos, mesothelioma, sandblasters disease - silicosis, benzene solvents-aml leukemia, MDS, toxic chemical, lung cancer, 3rd party actions, electrical shock, fires, burns, explosions, helicopter crashes, tugboats, trucking accidents, third party lawsuits, and other product liability and negligence cases from across the United States, including clients from Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Virginia, Mexico, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia & Wyoming.
Further, any statement or reference to past personal injury, products liability lawsuits, settlements or verdicts should NOT be relied upon in one's own case or in your decision on which law firm to hire. All cases, facts, injuries, damages, venues and lawsuits are different and there is NO way to predict the outcome of a particular case, verdict of a jury or judge or the strength of a case before a judge, jury or the appellate court system. The client is responsible for all of their own medical expenses. All cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. No attorney’s fees or case costs charged to client, unless a recovery is made for the client. Often in very serious and catastrophic maritime injury and offshore seaman injury cases Mr. Willis may associate with another attorney as co-counsel and in other matters, the case may be referred. In cases where a legal matter is referred, Mr. Willis will continue to maintain joint responsibility with the handling attorney or lead counsel and actively monitor the progress and development of the case |
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