Just Say "NO"

I am troubled by the "offer" made by Costa to "uninjured" passengers for $14,000.

In my opinion $14,000 is grossly inadequate to compensate an "uninjured" passenger after the trauma that each of these victims suffered. My former partner, Mel Belli, would have argued to the Jury about the inadequacy of $14,000 by asking the Jury, "How much would you take to endure the Concordia experience? Would you take $14,000. Would you take $50,000. Would you take $100,000?"

It would only be when Mel got to $500,000 that the Jurors' heads would start nodding in the affirmative.

Then Mel would have said, "Remember, you are looking back having survived and making it to the island. I want you to think about it as you were jumping off the ship into cold, dark water not knowing whether you would die. Then tell me what you would take."

Two days ago, I met with a couple, passengers from the Costa Concordia, who contacted me. They had a difficult time riding in the elevator to my office because they now feel claustrophobic after this experience. The husband didn’t know how to swim as the overloaded lifeboat went under water. His wife was terrorized as another victim floating next to her tried to pull her under water by the hair so that she might survive.

$14,000?

Another client told me he received a call from Costa on Friday offering him $14,000. Two hours later, the same Costa representative called and offered him $24,000. He referred him to me, his lawyer. An hour later, a woman from Costa called to tell him they had no record of him being on the ship.

If you feel that $14,000 is adequate, then accept it. For those who say "NO," I respect your bravery and urge you to contact counsel. I intend to file for those who say "NO" in Genoa, Italy and, if appropriate, in the United States.

Robert Lieff
January 29, 2012