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.
Jason R. Margulies is an experienced maritime lawyer and an active trial attorney handling personal injury, cruise line sexual assault and wrongful death claims.
Ricardo V. Alsina is an active trial attorney, handling personal injury, cruise line sexual assault and wrongful death claims.
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.
A cruise ship passenger who was sailing to Bermuda last week on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship explained he got a good discount on a Rembrandt painting – a five finger discount to be precise. The American traveler admitted to stealing a copy of the work of art from the ship while on his cruise vacation.
The cruise passenger, Kevin Hudgeons, of Kentucky, was fined $500 on Monday for the theft by a Bermuda judge. He was apprehended on Friday trying to disembark the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star with the painting, but Hudgeons couldn’t evade authorities. The painting was the size of a door and worth well over $13,000. Security cameras on the ship also caught him removing the painting from a wall in the gallery and taking it to his cabin.
When stopped by officials in Bermuda, Hudgeons said he was “going to mail it home,” quoted the Royal Gazette. Hudgeons’ lawyer told a Bermuda court his client was on medication to treat opiate withdrawal and had reportedly been acting strange as of late. According to Hudgeons’ wife, he had told her that he won the painting in a raffle.
This isn’t the first incident of theft onboard a cruise ship with a Bermuda itinerary. Less than a month ago, a passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship also visiting Bermuda admitted to stealing over $3,000 worth of items from the vessel’s spa.
While this incident did not leave anyone harmed physically, criminal activity onboard cruise lines is not uncommon. Unfortunately, many crimes that take place on the high seas involve some form of violence, including assault or rape. As terrible as these crimes are when they occur on land, it is all the more difficult for victims to seek help when an accident or crime takes place at sea on a cruise ship. Even when victims turn to cruise authorities for assistance, they don’t always get the help they deserve – or medical treatment. Cruise lines are responsible for maintaining the safety of all who are onboard, so when they fail to do so, they may be held liable for any crimes and accidents that ensue. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident at sea, we are here to help ensure those responsible are held accountable for their negligence and wrongdoing.
Our maritime lawyers fight for the rights of those who have been harmed onboard cruise vessels and will work diligently to secure compensation for the pain and injuries you and your loved ones have suffered. We have been helping victims obtain justice for accidents on the high seas since 1971 and make it our mission to protect victims’ rights. Whether the incidents involve slip and falls, physical violence, cruise ship rape, or a cruise ship disappearance, our cruise injury attorneys are dedicated to helping your case end favorably. Call Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, P.A. today to discuss your options.