Families Of The Titan Submersible Victims Could Sue Its Operator
De Wikifliping
nairaland.comFamilies of the Titan submersible victims could sue its operator , the maker of the vessel and companies that provided parts, legal experts have said.
Lawyers said relatives could seek damages from any outside parties involved in the Titan's construction if they were found to be negligent and a cause of the implosion.
Experts say wrongful death and negligence lawsuits could be filed by families of the victims, who paid $250,000 each to travel 12,500ft below the surface of the Atlantic.
The five passengers who died are thought to have been asked to sign liability waivers before they boarded the vessel, which imploded near the Titanic wreck on June 18.
This waiver could play a big role in legal action as families consider their options, but a major complicating factor is that the disaster happened in international waters.
Legal experts say the implosion occurred 'basically in a regulatory no man's land' and jurisdiction will be hard to establish both for the families and the investigations.
Any disputes relating to the waivers would likely be governed by the laws of the Bahamas, where OceanGate is registered - but families could also try to declare the waiver to be invalid in the US and bring a lawsuit there, or in their home countries.
US legal expert Dr Nick Oberheiden, plumbing fittings of Federal-lawyer.com, said families could win more than $100million if they sue OceanGate - and could choose to pursue it as a group claim, which might improve their chances of winning by sharing resources.
Among the OceanGate chiefs who could be involved in any legal action are logistics director Scott Griffiths, chief financial officer Doug Gorder and ex-Nasa astronaut Scott Parazynski - but there is no suggestion yet that any would be implicated.
Among the OceanGate chiefs who could be involved in any legal action are logistics director Scott Griffiths (left), chief financial officer Doug Gorder (centre) and ex-Nasa astronaut Scott Parazynski (right) - but there is no suggestion yet that any would be implicated
A door with signage removed at OceanGate's headquarters at the Port of Everett on June 20
A file photograph of Titan which has been used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic
A statement from OceanGate is posted at the entrance of the firm's base at the Port of Everett
The Associated Press has reviewed one of the liability waivers, signed by a person who planned to go on an OceanGate expedition, which required passengers to acknowledge risks involved with the trip on the Titan and any support vessels.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS news" data-version="2" id="mol-19938fb0-140f-11ee-a92a-a124e6d64c59" website of Titan sub disaster victims could sue OceanGate
