Princess settles 2 suits over virus outbreak

Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. settled two lawsuits that claimed the crew of the Ruby Princess was negligent when they decided to set sail despite a coronavirus outbreak on board, leading to two deaths.

The filings on Thursday did not disclose the settlement terms. The plaintiffs sought damages in excess of $1 million.

The cruise line is represented by Nield Law Group APC, Maltzman and Partners, and Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer LLP. A lawyer for the cruise line declined to comment.

Michael A. Simmrin of the Simmrin Law Group and Florida-based lawyer Debi F. Chalik represented the plaintiffs in both lawsuits. Neither returned a request for comment.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs notified the court on Thursday of the settlement agreement reached following mediation talks on Oct. 29.

Pamela Wortman and Juishan Hsu filed separate lawsuits claiming Princess Cruise Lines was aware of outbreaks on three of its ships docked worldwide. The company continued to sail. The Ruby Princess departed from Australia on March 8, 2020, according to the suits.

Wortman represents the estate of Edward Mireles, who died after contracting the coronavirus. U.S. Judge Dale S. Fischer tossed the lawsuit last year after finding that Wortman did not show Mireles contracted the virus on the Ruby Princess. But Wortman was allowed to file an amended complaint. Wortman et al. v. Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., 2:20-cv-04169-DSF-JC (C.D. Cal., filed April 15, 2020).

Fischer also allowed Hsu to amend her complaint last year after saying Hsu failed to show that she was appointed the personal representative of her late husband's estate. Hsu et al. v. Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., 2:20-cv-03488-DSF-JC (C.D. Cal., filed April 15, 2020).

Princess Cruise Lines and its parent company, Carnival, are facing several coronavirus related claims. All alleged plaintiffs were exposed to the virus. Some did get infected, while others sued for emotional distress.

Some cases are still ongoing, while others have settled or been dismissed.

A highly publicized case settled in July in a lawsuit brought by passengers who were quarantined at an Air Force base in California due to an outbreak aboard the Grand Princess in March 2020, soon after the virus was discovered. President Donald Trump initially tried to prevent the passengers from disembarking. Archer et al. v. Carnival Corporation and PLC et al., 2:20-cv-04203-RGK-SK (C.D. Cal., filed May 8, 2020).