GUILTY IN - Grandfather charged in cruise ship death of toddler Chloe Wiegand #9 *NO JAIL*

[SaguaroSpirit]

I can't even begin to imagine the mindset of this family. They completely disgust me.

 

[In vino veritas]

Has anyone following this case seen any updates regarding the civil lawsuit? I believe it is scheduled to begin sometime later this month.... around the 23rd?

With the Derek Chauvin murder trial in full swing, Chloe’s case has dropped off the radar.

 

[Wicked Strong]

Has anyone following this case seen any updates regarding the civil lawsuit? I believe it is scheduled to begin sometime later this month.... around the 23rd?

With the Derek Chauvin murder trial in full swing, Chloe’s case has dropped off the radar.

I was just checking on this today. I think the case was to start on April 26th. I tried searching news and nothing new.

 

[Seattle1]

Docket entry for the trial date reported as follows:

04/19/2021
# 178
FOURTH AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER SETTING TRIAL DATE Jury Trial set for 7/19/2021 in Miami Division before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. The call of the calendar will be held telephonically at 2:00 p.m. on July 14, 2021 before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. The pretrial conference will be held telephonically at 2:00 p.m. on June 16, 2021 before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. Signed by Senior Judge Donald L. Graham on 4/19/2021. See attached document for full details. (jbs) (Entered: 04/20/2021)

 

[In vino veritas]

Docket entry for the trial date reported as follows:

04/19/2021
# 178
FOURTH AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER SETTING TRIAL DATE Jury Trial set for 7/19/2021 in Miami Division before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. The call of the calendar will be held telephonically at 2:00 p.m. on July 14, 2021 before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. The pretrial conference will be held telephonically at 2:00 p.m. on June 16, 2021 before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. Signed by Senior Judge Donald L. Graham on 4/19/2021. See attached document for full details. (jbs) (Entered: 04/20/2021)

Thanks for the update!
It does seem that RCCL will NOT be settling with the Wiegands. I do hope a sensible jury comes to the same conclusion as the majority of us has and finds all culpability rests with Sam Anello.
While it is incredibly tragic they have lost a child in such a horrific manner, this family should not profit financially from her death. AND, despite their protestations to the contrary, this lawsuit is NOT about improved safety for cruise ship windows..... it is merely an audacious money grab.

 

[Marysmith]

Thanks for the update!
It does seem that RCCL will NOT be settling with the Wiegands. I do hope a sensible jury comes to the same conclusion as the majority of us has and finds all culpability rests with Sam Anello.
While it is incredibly tragic they have lost a child in such a horrific manner, this family should not profit financially from her death. AND, despite their protestations to the contrary, this lawsuit is NOT about improved safety for cruise ship windows..... it is merely an audacious money grab.

I think it’s great that they’re not settling!

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

I think it’s great that they’re not settling!

Chloe will never have justice. The absolute GALL and NERVE of the family to try and benefit from SA's criminal and deliberate actions is beyond disgusting IMHO. This case has been about money right from the beginning. That poor child never had a chance in this life. Hopefully karma will visit SA.

 

[JulieBEMT]

Mother of Chloe Wiegand describes breaking down during video deposition | Daily Mail Online

I don't trust the family. IMO this is part of their latest claim that it was a cruise ship employee who opened the window and therefore was responsible for Chloe's death.

IMO the family and their lawyer are trying to "soften" the story by making Chloe's mother more sympathetic. After all, what has everyone been saying about the family's apparent speedy forgiveness of SA?

Nope, not buying it. MOO.

Thank you for sharing this. I hadn't seen it yet. So, she admits that:

1.) She hasn't seen/can't watch the video.
2.) Is unable/refuses to listen to any of the details about the incident.

Based on her own statement then, she doesn't know what happened, yet she believes a lawsuit is justified. That's just crazy!

 

[Montrealaise]

Thank you for sharing this. I hadn't seen it yet. So, she admits that:

1.) She hasn't seen/can't watch the video.
2.) Is unable/refuses to listen to any of the details about the incident.

Based on her own statement then, she doesn't know what happened, yet she believes a lawsuit is justified. That's just crazy!

Just what does she intend to do during the trial, when the video evidence is presented? Leave the courtroom? Ask the judge to exclude the video because she can't bear to look at it or hear about it? As difficult as it is for her to hear what really happened, she isn't doing herself any favors in the long run. Or is she hoping that the cruise line will offer her a big settlement before she has to face the truth?

 

[mickey2942]

Thank you for sharing this. I hadn't seen it yet. So, she admits that:

1.) She hasn't seen/can't watch the video.
2.) Is unable/refuses to listen to any of the details about the incident.

Based on her own statement then, she doesn't know what happened, yet she believes a lawsuit is justified. That's just crazy!

We have only seen limited pieces of the video available. I bet that RCCL has a lot of video, from various angles. It would be really interesting to see what RCCL showed the police in Puerto Rico, that lead to SA being charged.

He totally got a pass.

The Mother, she won't watch the video? She closes her eyes and put her hands on her ears and shouts, "La, la, la" as loud as she can? Whatever.

 

[Marysmith]

Just what does she intend to do during the trial, when the video evidence is presented? Leave the courtroom? Ask the judge to exclude the video because she can't bear to look at it or hear about it? As difficult as it is for her to hear what really happened, she isn't doing herself any favors in the long run. Or is she hoping that the cruise line will offer her a big settlement before she has to face the truth?

Bingo to the last question!

 

[MsMarple]

We have only seen limited pieces of the video available. I bet that RCCL has a lot of video, from various angles. It would be really interesting to see what RCCL showed the police in Puerto Rico, that lead to SA being charged.

He totally got a pass.

The Mother, she won't watch the video? She closes her eyes and put her hands on her ears and shouts, "La, la, la" as loud as she can? Whatever.

Cripes, it's more like "La la la, just gimme the money." I suspect there will be a last minute settlement, hopefully a lot less than these greedy people and their attorney think they're owed. I wonder if SA gets a share.

 

[Montrealaise]

We have only seen limited pieces of the video available. I bet that RCCL has a lot of video, from various angles. It would be really interesting to see what RCCL showed the police in Puerto Rico, that lead to SA being charged.

He totally got a pass.

The Mother, she won't watch the video? She closes her eyes and put her hands on her ears and shouts, "La, la, la" as loud as she can? Whatever.

The video may be incomplete, but it does give us a very good idea of what happened.
First, it is most definitely NOT a children's play area - there's a bar, bar stools, tables and chairs, and people drinking - all adults. Chloe is the only child and she's only there because she ran inside, slowly followed by SA. We can also see that the windows are about waist high for a tall adult, way above any toddler's head.
We see SA walk up to the window and stick his head out to look down, which blows up his version of "I thought there was glass there". If there had been glass, he would have hit his forehead on it when he leaned forward.
Then he turns to look at Chloe, on the ground below him, and lifts her up in one big swooping motion, and places her out of sight of the video camera. This disproves the theory that he set her on top of the safety railing, because the railing is in front of the window, and if the theory is correct, she would be visible in the picture frame. So he either set her on the window sill of an open window, eleven stories above the ground, or he was holding her outside the window. Either maneuver was incredibly reckless and dangerous.

 

[Wicked Strong]

Just checking in - I have it on my calendar that the pretrial conference of the Wiegand lawsuit was scheduled for June 16th, with the jury trial to begin July 19th. I was wondering if it was OK to discuss the lawsuit on this thread?

 

[Seattle1]

Docket entry for the trial date reported as follows:

04/19/2021

# 178
FOURTH AMENDED SCHEDULING ORDER SETTING TRIAL DATE Jury Trial set for 7/19/2021 in Miami Division before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. The call of the calendar will be held telephonically at 2:00 p.m. on July 14, 2021 before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. The pretrial conference will be held telephonically at 2:00 p.m. on June 16, 2021 before Senior Judge Donald L. Graham. Signed by Senior Judge Donald L. Graham on 4/19/2021. See attached document for full details. (jbs) (Entered: 04/20/2021)

CASE UPDATE

Defendant RCCL filed unopposed motion to extend the pretrial conference previously scheduled for June 16, 2021. Order granted 6/14/21 - no conference date written --noted only as forthcoming.

IMO, trial likely delayed until Oct 2021 or later...

Last Docket entries:

06/09/2021
#226 Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time for Pre-Trial Conference by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. Responses due by 6/23/2021 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hamilton, Jerry) (Entered: 06/09/2021)

[..]

06/15/2021
#230 ORDER granting 226 Motion for Extension of Time for Pretrial Conference Signed by Senior Judge Donald L. Graham on 6/14/2021. See attached document for full details. (ail) (Entered: 06/15/2021)

06/21/2021
#231 TRANSCRIPT of Discovery Hearing held on 12/23/2020 before Magistrate Judge Chris M. McAliley, 1-21 pages, Court Reporter: Joanne Mancari, 305-523-5635. Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased by contacting the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through PACER. Redaction Request due 7/12/2021. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 7/22/2021. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 9/20/2021. (apz) (Entered: 06/22/2021)
____________
End of entries

CM/ECF - Live Database - flsd

 

[LietKynes]

Good news.

Judge throws out family's case against Royal Caribbean after Chloe Wiegand accidental death | Daily Mail Online

The parents of a toddler who fell to her death when her grandfather accidentally dropped her from the 11th deck of a cruise ship have today lost their bid to hold Royal Caribbean legally responsible.

‘We will be filing the appeal shortly and we will continue to fight and raise awareness about the dangers of unintentional toddler window falls. This case was always about Chloe and shining a light on her brief but beautiful life.’
Emphasis mine.
Re. the bolded : Oh, is that what we're calling it now ?
Imo.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge throws out family's case against Royal Caribbean after Chloe Wiegand accidental death | Daily Mail Online

July 13, 2021

[..]

However a judge tossed the emotion-charged case this afternoon just days before it was due to go before a jury, ruling there was no way Royal Caribbean could have anticipated Salvatore Anello’s catastrophic decision to hold his 18-month-old granddaughter up to an open window.

‘The true risk-creating danger here was Mr. Anello lifting a child up to an open window,’ wrote federal judge Donald L. Graham as he entered a summary judgement in the cruise operator’s favor.

[..]

The decision, published late Tuesday, means that a two-week trial scheduled to begin in Miami US District Court next week that was due to hear from dozens of witnesses and see jurors taken on to the splash pool deck of the $800m Freedom of the Seas will no longer take place.

 

[TDoc72]

Judge throws out family's case against Royal Caribbean after Chloe Wiegand accidental death | Daily Mail Online

July 13, 2021

[..]

However a judge tossed the emotion-charged case this afternoon just days before it was due to go before a jury, ruling there was no way Royal Caribbean could have anticipated Salvatore Anello’s catastrophic decision to hold his 18-month-old granddaughter up to an open window.

‘The true risk-creating danger here was Mr. Anello lifting a child up to an open window,’ wrote federal judge Donald L. Graham as he entered a summary judgement in the cruise operator’s favor.

[..]

The decision, published late Tuesday, means that a two-week trial scheduled to begin in Miami US District Court next week that was due to hear from dozens of witnesses and see jurors taken on to the splash pool deck of the $800m Freedom of the Seas will no longer take place.

Judge Donald Graham for the win! He gets what most of us have been saying from day 1. Judge talks about the grandfather putting his hand through the window hole and the leaning over. Good article.

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting wording..."Judge THROWS out"..."Judge TOSSED the case"...

Apparently, the parents are now filing an appeal, they state that the case needs to be addressed by a jury. The "accidental fall" out of an open window.

 

[book-thinker]

This attorney was banking on a jury trial to show the emotional trauma this family has endured since her death. Now the family wants to appeal the ruling. Chloe should be remembered for the love she gave her others.
Mr. Anello’s negligence act of placing a toddler out a window is the reason she fell to her death. This wasn’t the fault of the Royal Caribbean. Good for the judges ruling!