Major cruise line accused in lawsuit of serving passenger 33 alcoholic drinks before his death
The family of a man who died while aboard a Royal Caribbean ship last year says he was served at least 33 alcoholic drinks before the incident took place that caused his death. According to TMZ, court documents from a lawsuit filed by the family of Michael Virgil accuse the ship’s staff, security and medical teams of contributing to Virgil’s death.
Virgil, 35, died last December after he was subdued by security and medical staff following several reported incidents. Passengers and crew members reported Virgil was aggressive and threatening to multiple people, including him trying to break down a door to get to a staff member who had locked themself inside, according to Fox 11 in Los Angeles.
However, Virgil’s family says he was intoxicated because he was overserved soon after the family got on the ship. In the court documents, Virgil’s fiancée, Connie Aguilar, says when the two got on the ship with their 7-year-old son, they were told their room wasn’t ready. When the child — who has autism — began getting impatient, Aguilar took the child with her to get information on when the room would be ready.
The lawsuit alleges that while Aguilar and the child were gone, Virgil was served dozens of alcoholic drinks. He then went to look for his room on his own, but because he was so intoxicated, he became agitated when he couldn’t find the room himself.
Video of Virgil shows him attempting to kick down the door before security and medical staff intervene. The lawsuit alleges that Virgil became a victim of “the excessive force and fatal actions taken by crew members including security and medical personnel” who “administered an injection of a sedative medication, Haloperidol, and used multiple cans of pepper spray,” TMZ reports.
The lawsuit further alleges that the actions of the crew caused Virgil to suffer “significant hypoxia and impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest, leading to his death which has been ruled a homicide.”
The incident took place roughly an hour after the ship departed from the San Pedro port in Los Angeles.
The family is seeking compensation for loss of support, inheritance, past and future earnings and net accumulations, funeral and medical expenses, mental pain and suffering, and more.
Royal Caribbean issued a statement offering condolences to the family and says it is cooperating with authorities. The cruise line did not publicly commented on the lawsuit or the allegations.
