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Royal Caribbean Sued Over Child's Death

Grandfather Accuses Cruise Line of Negligence

Lawsuit Revived by Appeals Court

A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises filed by the grandfather of an 18-month-old girl who fell to her death from an open window on a cruise ship in 2019.

The lawsuit, filed by Salvatore Anello, alleges that Royal Caribbean was negligent in failing to prevent the child's death.

Anello said he was holding his granddaughter, Chloe Wiegand, in his arms when she slipped from his grasp and fell through an open window on the 11th floor of the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. The window was part of a “virtual balcony” that could be opened to provide fresh air, but did not have a physical barrier to prevent people from falling out.

Royal Caribbean has denied any wrongdoing and has said that the window met all safety regulations.

The appeals court ruled that the lawsuit can proceed, finding that there was evidence that Royal Caribbean could have taken steps to prevent the child's death.