A Florida state appellate court has ruled that lawsuits filed by a group of predominantly foreign passengers on board the Costa Concordia when it sank can’t try their case in Miami-Dade — or anywhere in the U.S.
The ruling, made on Wednesday by Judge Barbara Lagoa in the Third District Court of Appeal, means that the 57 plaintiffs, five of whom are American, will have to take their injury compensation cases to Italy.
The suits were filed against Carnival Corporation, Costa Crociere and Miami architect Joseph Farcus.
“Litigating in Florida would result in material and manifest injustice to Carnival because the vast majority of evidence is located in Italy, as are virtually all of the witnesses,” Lagoa wrote.
On January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia sank off the Tuscan holiday island of Giglio. 32 people died in the incident.
Click here for the full report by The Maritime Executive.
