Arnold & Porter Obtains Dismissal in Costa Concordia Suits

Arnold & Porter LLP recently scored a major victory in obtaining the dismissal of two mass torts filed against its client, Carnival Corporation, over the widely-publicized January 2012 shipwreck involving the Costa Crociere cruise ship Costa Concordia. 

A Florida State Appellate Court ruled on January 27 that lawsuits filed by a group of passengers abroad the Costa Concordia cruise ship that sank off the coast of Italy belong in Italian courts. The Third District Court of Appeal sided with Arnold & Porter’s client that the two actions belong in Italy, where most of the evidence and witnesses reside, affirming a 2013 decision by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court. This effectively secures the dismissal of all the claims that were filed in the United States, based largely on forum non conveniens or forum selection grounds. 

The Arnold & Porter legal team included Thad Dameris and David Weiner, members of the firm’s Litigation practice.