A Texas woman is suing Princess Cruises, alleging the company's bungled handling of a Covid-19 outbreak aboard one of its ships killed her husband.
Susan Dorety filed suit against the Carnival Corp subsidiary last week, alleging that her husband, Michael, caught the respiratory illness aboard the 107,500-gt Grand Princess (built 1998) while the couple were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and was ignored after he developed symptoms.
The lawsuit seeks at least $1m in damages.
"At one point when Michael Dorety was shivering under several blankets and sweating profusely, Princess asked how Susan Dorety knew her husband actually had a fever," said the complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court.
"Eventually, Susan Dorety convinced Princess to send the doctor. He showed up, confirmed that Michael Dorety had a fever, gave Susan Dorety some Tamiflu and Tylenol for her husband, and left. At this point, Michael Dorety was nonresponsive."
The Dorety's lawsuit is one of at least 14 filed against Princess over the Grand Princess' 21 February voyage to Hawaii and Mexico.
The lawsuits represent a total of 41 individuals, who allege the cruise line was negligent when it allowed the Grand Princess to sail, knowing two passengers from a previous trip had tested positive for Covid-19. A total of 62 passengers stayed on for the 21 February voyage.
Except for Dorety, all the plaintiffs allege negligence over potential exposure.
The Dorety suit said Michael Dorety had developed symptoms after the ship docked in Oakland in early March as the cruise was cut short. It said Susan Dorety alerted the Grand Princess' staff and was told they would follow up, but they never did.
After Michael Dorety was given Tamiflu and Tylenol, Susan Dorety said she was able to convince the company to let him off the ship to see shoreside Centers for Disease Control medical personnel.
"When she finally got Michael Dorety off the ship, almost three days after his symptoms developed, the CDC looked at him alarmed and asked why she did not bring him sooner. She explained that she spent the last two days trying to get Princess to let him off the ship," the complaint said.
"Michael Dorety was immediately taken to a hospital where he spent days suffering in agony. ... The doctor called Susan Dorety to tell her that her husband was dying. Susan Dorety and her children listened as the doctor counted down Michael Dorety’s heartbeats until he was gone. Michael Dorety died alone."
Princess Cruises did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company has said it does not comment on ongoing litigation.
