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Charles R. Lipcon
Charles R. Lipcon is the firm's founding attorney and has been handling injury, cruise line sexual assault and wrongful death claims for over 40 years. Read More »
Jason R. Margulies
Jason R. Margulies is an experienced maritime lawyer and an active trial attorney handling personal injury, cruise line sexual assault and wrongful death claims. Read More »
Ricardo V. Alsina
Ricardo V. Alsina is an active trial attorney, handling personal injury, cruise line sexual assault and wrongful death claims. Read More »
Michael A. Winkleman
Mr. Winkleman is an active trial and appellate attorney handling all personal injury, cruise line sexual assault and wrongful death claims, as well as complex business disputes. Read More »

Royal Caribbean loses suit, must pay $1.7 million over fall

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Nine years after he slipped on stage during rehearsal, cruise ship trumpeter Steven Pavone won a $1.7 million verdict against Royal Caribbean for the fall. A Miami-Dade jury awarded the 40-year-old the money for the August 2001 accident, which was blamed on spilled oil from a fog machine.

Pavone’s lawsuit claimed the shoulder injury ended a beloved trumpeting career, since he is only able to lift the instrument for about an hour at a time. The Miami Beach resident now works part-time as an usher at the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center. “This whole thing has turned his life upside down,” said Pavone’s lawyer, Luis Perez.

Perez said Royal Caribbean asked jurors to award Pavone, who earned about $22,000 a year as a trumpeter, less than $130,000 for his injuries. As Pavone’s lawyer, Perez said he expects to retain about 40 percent of the verdict amount. Royal Caribbean Cruises “feels the amount awarded is not supported by the evidence and are currently evaluating our appellate options,” the cruise line said in a statement.