The parents of Liz Marie Perez Chaparro are hoping the courts will find Carnival Cruise liable for the 2010 shooting death of their daughter during a land excursion in the Virgin Islands.
The 15-year-old teen was on the M/V Victory cruise ship celebrating her quinceañera with her family that hails from Puerto Rico.
The family alleges the cruise recommended a day excursion to Coki Beach in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, never informing them the area was known for gang violence. On the day of the land excursion a funeral procession for a gang member was being held as the Chaparro family rode the excursion bus, shots were fired and two people were killed, one being Liz Marie. The teen died in her father’s arms.
A judge in Florida dismissed the family’s liability suit but last week in appeal the 11th Circuit Court approved the case so that it could go forward. The Court acknowledged that cruise operators have a duty to warn their passengers of dangers ashore in their port of calls.
