In 2003 a Ferry crashed at Staten Island, New York, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more. The case has finally reached the courts with the City of New York accepting negligence for the accident.
The City initially tried to cap the compensation payments to just over £7 million, the price of the ferry based on a 19th century maritime law which states that the owner of the boat is only liable to the actual price of the vessel.
A New York Judge threw out that claim and yesterday the first of the injured party received their compensation damages.
James McMillan, 44, was awarded over £9 million pounds after being paralysed due to the accident. Initially, the City of New York offered James £5 million but after seeking the advice of a personal injury lawyer, James took the City to court and has nearly doubled that initial compensation payment offered by the City.
It should be noted that James had received the worst injury of all the claimants (he has lost use of both arms and legs and will be forever wheelchair bound) in making a claim against the City due to the ferry accident.
The remaining claimants are not expecting similar payouts.