Royal Caribbean settlement over deadly volcano eruption resonates worldwide

Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel is honored to represent Stephanie Browitt and her mother, Marie Browitt—two remarkable individuals whose resilience and determination in the face of unimaginable tragedy have been truly inspiring. Stephanie Browitt narrowly escaped from a volcanic eruption on a Royal Caribbean tour of Whakaari / White Island, New Zealand—an eruption that claimed the lives of her father, Paul, and her sister, Krystal, while devastating her mother Marie.

Since the devastating 2019 volcanic eruption on Whakaari / White Island, New Zealand, Stephanie and Marie have courageously pursued justice against Royal Caribbean cruise line for failing to warn passengers of escalating risks of eruption that resulted in the deaths of 22 tourists and 2 local tour guides.

The litigation, which reached a favorable settlement on the eve of a jury trial in September 2024, spanned four years in Florida state and Australia federal courts.  Peter Gordon of Melbourne, Australia, and Mike Kaeske of the Kaeske Law Firm, joined in the representation of the Browitts. The settlement and the Browitts’ story have been featured recently in People magazine and 60 Minutes Australia.

Warnings disregarded before volcano tragedy 

In the months before the tragedy, scientists warned that the volcano was in a “near constant state of unrest,” and the “phreatic eruptions” occurring on the island were difficult to forecast and could occur rapidly and without warning. According to the lawsuit filed for the Browitts, White Island was simply too dangerous to be offered as a tourist shore excursion.  Worse—Royal Caribbean disregarded the escalating danger and failed to warn passengers of the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship who were taking the tour.

Twenty-two tourists and two local tour guides died when the volcanic island off the Bay of Plenty coast erupted on December 9, 2019. Another 25 people were injured, many suffering severe burns.

Stephanie Browitt endured third-degree burns over about 70% of her body, necessitating the amputation of eight fingers and requiring more than 20 surgeries.

“The Browitts’ story is one of incredible courage, and it is an absolute honor to stand alongside them in this fight,” said Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel trial lawyer Kay Gunderson Reeves. “It is a powerful reminder of the importance of accountability and the pursuit of justice.”

Writes People magazine:

[Stephanie] Browitt, who lives in Australia and is now 28, was in the hospital for six months going through “long, painful and exhausting” recuperation. Surgeries, which were at first conducted every other day, involved the debridement or removal of dead tissue and the application of grafts crafted from donated skin as well as her own. Her healing was also facilitated by hyperbaric chambers, various forms of therapy, including speech sessions, laser treatments and whole-body compression garments.

A firm’s singular focus on justice 

Representing individuals like the Browitts is at the heart of Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel’s mission. The Dallas-based firm is committed to advocating for those who have been wronged and to ensuring that corporations are held responsible for their negligence.

How Do We Fight Corporate Negligence?  

Seek justice with the help of our experienced attorneys. We’ve battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for 20 years, aggressively fighting those responsible for personal injury and wrongful death caused by corporate wrongdoing and fraud committed against the government. If you’ve suffered catastrophic injury or loss caused by corporate negligence or believe you have a government whistleblower case, we can help. Contact is kept confidential.