A Florida woman claims she was sxully assaulted by the cruise director during an MSC Cruise.
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe (A.K.), filed her complaint in federal court against MSC Cruises S.A.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was a paying passenger aboard the MSC Seascape between February 5 and February 12, 2023. During this time, she became acquainted with Cruise Director Gene Young.
On the evening of February 12, she says Young gave her alcohol or an unknown substance which intoxicated her. He then coerced her into accompanying him to the DJ booth in the shipboard lounge/club where he proceeded to grope and sexually assault her, according to the complaint.
The plaintiff claims MSC Cruises should have foreseen such an incident considering there were a total of 12 sexual assaults reported on their vessels between 2016 and 2022, with a quarter of these committed by crew members like Young. These incidents were reported directly to the Secretary of Transportation and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being pursued under admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. The plaintiff's legal representation is Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.