Widow Sues Disney Cruise Line For Wrongful Death Of Husband

Amy Rothschild

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Marilyn Piazza of New York, has brought a wrongful death suit against Disney Cruise Line claiming that the company is at fault in the August 14, 2007, death of Santo L. Piazza, her husband. Mr. Piazza was 78 years old at the time of his death.

Mrs. Piazza alleges that her husband died on a Mediterranean cruise in the summer of 2007 as a result of poorly designed raised threshold on bathroom doorway that resulted in Mr. Piazza tripping and falling. Mrs. Piazza further claims that the ship's medical staff first misdiagnosed his injures and acted to slowly in making efforts to evacuate him to an onshore medical facility for treatment.

"The suit gives this account: Santo Piazza tripped over the raised threshold while stepping into his cabin's bathroom. He fell, and his right side struck the bathtub, causing "catastrophic internal injuries." He immediately went to the shipboard health-services department, where he was given a Tylenol. That afternoon, he returned to the health-services department after he vomited, had shortness of breath and experienced severe pain. After his second evaluation, the ship's doctor diagnosed him with fractured ribs and a punctured lung, requiring immediate evacuation and hospitalization."

The lawsuit is seeking $75,000 in damages.