Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Man served equivalent of 30 drinks before falling overboard
Cruise line is not responsible for his death, jury says
Royal Caribbean Cruises is not responsible for the overboard death of a Nebraska man who was reportedly served the equivalent of 30 drinks, a federal jury in Miami has found.
Todd and Lisa Skokan, parents of Nathaniel Skokan, along with brothers Samuel and Zachary had sought more than $75,000 in damages from the Miami-based cruise line. Nathaniel Skokan died on Dec. 22, 2016, on the last day of a five-day cruise out of Port Everglades aboard Independence of the Seas.
His parents charged that the cruise line served the 22-year-old an excessive amount of alcohol as part of its all-inclusive drink package and “knew or should have known” he was a danger to himself or others.
They also charged that ship officials illegally detained them in their cabin during a search for their son and did not follow proper search and rescue procedures by waiting two hours to lower rescue boats after learning about the disappearance.
In addition, the Skokans accused Royal Caribbean of intentional infliction of emotional distress by announcing their son “intentionally” fell overboard, causing grief that he may have committed suicide.
Witnesses testified that Nathaniel Skokan was on the ship’s 12th floor deck with several passengers when one jokingly pointed to the handrail and suggested they should jump overboard. At 1:37 a.m., the young man pretended to throw himself up on the handrail but when he went to sit on it, lost his balance and slipped overboard, a witness said.
Before going overboard, Nathaniel was served at least 30 ounces of alcohol over 12 hours, including six full-sized martinis at a martini-making class, two vodkas mixed with Red Bull and a cognac. His blood alcohol level was at least .256 percent, the
plaintiffs stated.
Royal Caribbean argued that Nathaniel Skokan’s “own negligence” was the sole cause of his death, and that he intentionally jumped overboard.
U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga cleared the way for the jury trial by ruling in October against Royal Caribbean’s motion to dismiss all of the family’s claims. The cruise line contended that the Skokans had no legal standing to bring the case, but Altonaga disagreed, saying the plaintiffs presented “ample evidence” disputing Royal Caribbean’s arguments.
The jury trial began on Dec. 10 and concluded a week later.
The company denied that it overserved Nathaniel Skokan, imprisoned his parents, or intentionally inflicted emotional distress on his parents and brothers.
In its decision on Monday, the jury agreed with the cruise line, finding that Royal Caribbean was not negligent in any of the manners claimed by the Skokans, that it did not intentionally restrain the family, and that it did not intentionally inflict emotional distress.
Attorneys for the two sides declined to comment about the verdict on Tuesday.
Late Monday, the Skokans’ attorney Michael Coyle told The Miami Herald that the family was disappointed in the verdict and “pursued this action with the hope another family never has to experience such a tragedy.”