LWWM Partner, Ben Murphey, Part of Legal Team that Resolved Casino Death Case on Behalf of 77 year-old’s Estate
Fort Lauderdale, FL August, 2011 –The Palm Beach Princess has settled a lawsuit that was filed against them last year by Lawlor, Winston, White & Murphey (Fort Lauderdale) and the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb (West Palm Beach) for the death of Fiping “Phil” Racoma, aged 77 when he died. Mr. Racoma died when he had a heart attack in the casino of the ship, which is now moth-balled in a port in the Bahamas, awaiting dismantling. The fatal voyage for Mr. Racoma took place on October 6, 2009 when the ship set sail with only one working engine, and limped back to the Port of Palm Beach as Mr. Racoma lay dying.
Despite the death of another passenger the previous year, the ship was not equipped with any Automated External Defibrillator (AED), which may have saved his life, says his attorney, Ben Murphey, Esq. of Fort Lauderdale. “Hopefully, cruise ships and other businesses will realize that these effective, inexpensive, and easy to use medical devices should be purchased not only for the safety of customers, but for the safety of their employees and their management. It’s often the business owner’s life that is saved by AEDs” says Murphey. Although the amount of settlement is being kept confidential out of respect for the family, Mr. Murphey says, “the recovery will allow Mr. Racoma’s widow to enjoy the remainder of her life to the extent possible after needlessly losing her husband”.
The law firm of Lawlor Winston White & Murphey provides the very best representation to their clients – ensuring they are represented at the highest and most effective levels, focusing on protecting the rights of individuals and families. Practice areas include Catastrophic Personal Injury including Wrongful Death, Auto Accidents, Premises Liability, Insurance Bad Faith Disputes, Professional Malpractice, Commercial Litigation, Maritime/Admiralty, Labor & Employment Disputes and ERISA Claims. The firm is headquartered at 2211 Davie Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312. They may be contacted at 954-525-2345. Additional information about Lawlor Winston may be obtained from the Firm’s website at www.lwmcruiseinjurylawyers.com.