Executive Summary
- A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Royal Caribbean regarding the death of Michael Virgil in December 2024.
- The complaint alleges Virgil was served at least 33 alcoholic drinks in a short period before becoming agitated.
- Virgil died of respiratory failure after being subdued by security and sedated by medical staff.
- The suit seeks damages for negligence and excessive force.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is facing a wrongful death lawsuit following the December 2024 death of a passenger aboard the Navigator of the Seas, with plaintiffs alleging the cruise line demonstrated gross negligence by serving the man excessive amounts of alcohol. The complaint, filed by the fiancée of the deceased, 35-year-old Michael Virgil, asserts that the company’s failure to monitor alcohol consumption and the subsequent actions of security personnel directly contributed to his death.
According to court documents cited by TMZ, the incident occurred shortly after Virgil and his fiancée, Connie Aguilar, boarded the vessel in Los Angeles for a three-night sailing. The lawsuit alleges that while the couple waited for their stateroom to become available, Virgil was served “at least 33 alcoholic beverages” within a span of just a few hours. The plaintiffs contend that this volume of alcohol, allegedly served at a rate of one drink every five to six minutes, rendered Virgil heavily intoxicated and disoriented.
The filing details that Virgil became agitated when he could not locate his cabin, leading to a violent altercation. Video footage reportedly recorded by another passenger shows Virgil kicking doors and acting erratically in the ship’s corridor. The situation escalated when he allegedly punched a crew member, prompting an intervention by the ship’s security team. The lawsuit claims that security personnel used excessive force to subdue Virgil and that medical staff subsequently injected him with a sedative.
Following the physical restraint and chemical sedation, Virgil reportedly suffered from significant hypoxia, respiratory failure, and cardiovascular instability. He went into cardiopulmonary arrest and was pronounced dead later that evening. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for loss of support, mental pain and suffering, and funeral expenses, arguing that the combination of over-service and the forceful response by the crew constituted a preventable tragedy.
Litigation and Maritime Liability
This case underscores the critical legal standards regarding duty of care in the maritime industry, specifically concerning the responsible service of alcohol and the use of force by private security personnel. The outcome of this litigation will likely hinge on whether the plaintiffs can prove that the cruise line’s beverage service policies were violated and if the security response was disproportionate to the threat posed. It is important to note that the claims made in this lawsuit are allegations and have not been proven in a court of law.
