Parents of toddler dropped from Royal Caribbean cruise ship window can now sue for UNLIMITED damages
THE parents of a toddler who plunged 11 decks to her death on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship last July can now sue the company for unlimited damages, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Parents Alan, 41, and Kimberly Wiegand, 37, are allowed to sue the cruise line for unlimited damages a judge ruled.
Royal Caribbean tried to argue grandfather Salvatore Anello was the sole person responsible in 18-month old Chloe’s death, reports.
But US District Judge Donald L. Graham dismissed Royal Caribbean's motion to dismiss the case against Anello.
The granddad had lifted up little Chloe to let her bang on the glass of the Freedom of the Seas liner on July 7 last year as the ship was docked in , as she often loved to do at her brother’s hockey games.
However, in a horrific incident, Chloe fell through an opening of the window that could be slid open, crashing down 150 feet to her death.
Royal Caribbean has alleged that blue-green tinted handles on the windows would have clearly indicated the window was open, but Anello has argued that he is colorblind and therefore did not know the window was open.
Chloe’s South Bend, parents, who say they just want to ensure that what happened to their daughter will never happen to anyone else, can now potentially win “unlimited” damages in court after Thursday’s proceeding.
Anello has been charged with negligent homicide, as was open as he held Chloe out of it for 34 seconds.
The grandfather has maintained his innocence, and refused a plea deal for homicide.
Chloe’s parents have plead Puerto Rican authorities to drop the charges against Anello, could not have been criminally responsible in the toddler’s death.
Released right before her death.
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A doctor who saw Chloe’s body after her death recalled the horrifying moment he saw her lying face-down, and his conversation with Anello after.
“I bent down and asked him what happened," the doctor said, according to the .
"While he was crying he just said: 'I thought the window was closed.'"
Anello is set for his next hearing on Feb. 24.
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