The recent decision, Doe v. Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd., No. 10-10809 (11th Cir., September 23, 2011), involves extremely disturbing facts, and highlights a crewmember’s plight onboard ship. The case involved a female crewmember who was invited to an after hour’s party, who woke up the following morning discovering that she had been drugged and raped by one or more male crewmembers. Following her rape, the facts alleged by the Plaintiff are extremely disturbing. The Plaintiff alleged she was refused appropriate treatment, and was interrogated and harassed, and denied an opportunity to get off the vessel in the United States for proper medical care and treatment. The allegations reflect the cruise ship company had a total disregard and indifference to her plight, and causes an increased necessity for the courts to shine a spotlight on the industry employing these foreign crewmembers to make sure that these crewmembers are properly treated, and that they have a proper avenue to enforce their rights when something like this happens.
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