The family of a man who died after being restrained on board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship last December is now suing, alleging that he was served too many drinks, given a sedative and restrained improperly.
Before he died, Michael Virgil, 35, had been accused of belligerence and violence towards crew members and other passengers, and had been restrained.
His fiancee at the time of his death and representative of his estate, Connie Aguilar, filed a suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Royal Caribbean Friday. The complaint alleges that alcohol, a sedative medication and the way the crew restrained Virgil led to his death.
Virgil, Ms. Aguilar, their son and other family members were aboard the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas on Dec. 13, 2024, in waters near California.
In the complaint, Ms. Aguilar’s lawyers said Virgil had an all-inclusive drinks package, and claimed that from 10:30 a.m. to the time of his death he was given at least 33 alcoholic drinks, making him so drunk that cruise staff should have stopped serving him.
Virgil got lost trying to find his room, making him agitated. He was then approached by ship security, who subdued him. The complaint claims the security staff tackled Virgil, stood on him with their full body weight, and compressed his body in a way that prevented proper breathing.
Royal Caribbean also injected Virgil with the sedative Haloperidol and used pepper spray on him, per the complaint. Virgil’s family contends that the combination of restraint methods, alcohol and the sedative “directly caused significant hypoxia and impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability, and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest leading to [Virgil’s] death.”
The Los Angeles medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, according to the New York Times.
In addition to damages, Virgil’s family is seeking a jury trial against Royal Caribbean on all applicable counts. The cruise line told CBS News that “we were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting any further on pending litigation.”
