Royal Caribbean liability for volcano deaths may turn on 'act of God' defense

submitted by magnora7 from reuters.com

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[–]magnora7[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

That is quite the headline.

[–]Tiwaking 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

[Non-US] Legally speaking, Act of God is a watertight defence.

Especially if you attempt to disprove it to an insurance company.

[–]beermeem 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

It's even more watertight in the US. Unless you can find some other negligence, they simply aren't responsible. It may be cheaper to settle anyway.

[–]bobbobbybob 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

may not be watertight here.

Maori consider the volcano itself to be an entity, but it isn't 'god', which is IO, it is a volcano. Not even an atua.

So this is an act of a vainglorious showoff blast mountain, not god

[–]black_hole_son 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

It is a fucking live Volcano, risks were known and accepted by those who took the trip.

[–]magnora7[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Agreed, but there also may be more to the story

[–]bobbobbybob 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

not really. Its a volcano and they went on it. volcanoes blow up. regularily.

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]bald-janitor 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    I am anti snow!

    [–]Nemacolin 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Seems like a very reasonable defense.

    The chain of causation here is long. Royal Caribbean did not cause the eruption. It did make people take the extra-cost excursion. It did not monitor the volcano. It did not decide to continue the trip in spite of some warnings.

    There are too many actions between Royal Caribbean and the disaster to hold them responsible.

    [–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

    Royal Caribbean definitely murdered those guys.

    [–]bobbobbybob 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

    nah, they committed suicide.

    [–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Suicide by volcano. They were a committed bunch.

    They could have been possessed by those volcanic Thetan spirits?

    [–]Nemacolin 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    How so? Murder being a word that has a definition and all.

    [–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Yeah, I'm just talking shit. ;-)