If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship and are seeking legal action against the cruise line, you’re most likely going to need to file your case in Florida.
This is a requirement within the ticketing contract that you signed in order to book your cruise. In the contract, there was a clause called the Forum Selection that outlined where and how lawsuits were to be brought if they occurred.
Forum selection clauses are part of the fine print of the contract between you and the cruise ship company. It’s a part of the ticker that you – and most passengers – never paid much attention to.
In the forum selection, there is a clause that states that in exchange for being allowed on the cruise ship, any lawsuits brought against the cruise line must be done so only in Florida – and generally only in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.
**each ticket and/or contract with a cruising vessel is subject to it’s own terms and agreements. Please contact an attorney experienced in dealing with cruise ship injury cases.**
So, though you may live in Alabama, Michigan or California you may have to file your lawsuit in Florida.
**a Miami based attorney who specializes in cruise ship legal services and personal injury can help you with your lawsuit.**
