$400 Million Lawsuit Filed Against Carnival Corp for "Serious Negligence"

Sandor Feher, a Hungarian musician who died on the Costa Concordia

(Dow Jones) Ronai and Ronai LLP, a U.S.-based law firm, filed a $400 million compensation claim demanding payment from the operators of Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia after an accident that caused the death of 32 people in January.

The firm represents the family of Sandor Feher, a Hungarian musician who died while trying to help fellow passengers, and all the other Hungarian travelers on the ship, said Peter Ronai, an attorney with the firm.

“The corporation is trying to paint the picture that the captain is the one responsible, to get away with the accident,” he said. “These people died because the corporation didn’t follow safety procedures.”

“Why are we going for so much money? This is the only way to punish these big firms, to hit them where it hurts,” Mr. Ronai said in a phone interview.

In the claim filed in a New York court, the family accuses Carnival Corp. (CCL) and its Italian subsidiary, Costa Crociere S. p. A(CCR.YY), of “serious negligence.” The Costa Concordia ran aground off the Tuscan coast with 4,200 passengers and crew.

Carnival wasn’t immediately available to comment.