Family of Man Who Died on Cruise Settles for $250k

The Daily Business Review reports on November 10, 2011 that in the case of Estate of Racoma v. Ocean Development LLC in Palm Beach Circuit Court, a family recovered a $250,000 settlement for a man who died while on a cruise. In 2008, Phil Racoma, 78, suffered a cardiac arrest and died. His family claimed that the vessel owner Platinum Real Estate, vessel operator Ocean Development and its officers failed to timely treat the man. The family claimed that there was no automated external defibrillator on board the ship, which was alleged to be standard on most cruise ships, and the ship never radioed the US Coast Guard for help.

The defense claimed that Racoma failed to take his medication before going on the ship and would have died regardless of any resuscitation efforts because of his advanced age and heart conditions. The parties settled after the defendants filed for bankruptcy.

If you are interested in receiving the small clip on the article from the Daily Business Review or wish to reach me, you may do so at miamipandi@comcast.net or motero@houckanderson.com.

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