On a seemingly ordinary day in May 2024, a tourist's visit to San Francisco turned into a traumatic ordeal when an Alcatraz Island cruise ended in disaster. Klaas Van Nus, a Dutch citizen, filed a complaint on September 25, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco against Hornblower Group, Inc., and its subsidiary Alcatraz Cruises, LLC. The lawsuit alleges negligence and negligent hiring practices that resulted in severe injuries for Van Nus.
According to the complaint filed by Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP on behalf of Klaas Van Nus, the incident occurred during a planned cruise to Alcatraz Island. Van Nus and his daughter had booked their tickets online through Alcatraz Cruises for May 2, 2024. As they embarked on their journey aboard the ship Discovery from Pier 33 in San Francisco Bay, little did they know that their trip would take such an unfortunate turn. Upon reaching Alcatraz Island, as Klaas descended from the upper deck to disembark, the ship unexpectedly crashed into the dock with significant force. This impact hurled him off the staircase onto the deck below, resulting in multiple fractures to his right leg.
The complaint details how this injury has drastically altered Klaas's life. It describes not only physical pain but also emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life due to his impaired mobility. Following extensive surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation efforts both in San Francisco and back home in the Netherlands, he continues to endure significant discomfort and limitations.
Van Nus’s legal team argues that Hornblower Group and Alcatraz Cruises failed in their duty as common carriers under California law by not ensuring safe passage for passengers like Klaas. They allege negligence on part of these companies for operating their vessel at unsafe speeds without warning passengers about potential dangers — actions which directly led to Klaas’s injuries.
Moreover, the lawsuit accuses Hornblower Group and its subsidiary of negligent hiring practices concerning crew members responsible for operating Discovery during this fateful voyage. The claim suggests that these employees were unfit or inadequately trained for their roles yet were allowed to continue working under conditions posing risks to passenger safety.
In seeking justice through this legal action against Hornblower Group Inc., Alcatraz Cruises LLC., along with unnamed defendants Does 1-20 involved as agents or co-conspirators within these organizations; Van Nus demands compensatory damages covering medical expenses incurred due to his injuries alongside other economic losses suffered since then – all amounts are subject according proof presented during trial proceedings.
Representing Klaas Van Nus are attorneys Julie L. Fieber and Andrew W. Britton from Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP. The Case ID is CGC-24-618207.