Should heroes be sued |Crew from pirated ship sue owner?

Answer 1

According to stories from the Associated Press and UK's Guardian

One of the most remarkable stories on the high seas in modern times has become mired in lawsuits,

More than half the crew members of a container ship that was at the center of a piracy drama off Somalia in April 2009 are suing for nearly $50 million, contending their captain ignored warnings to sail clear of pirate-infested waters off Africa. the crew members are claiming their lives were endangered, the Virginia-Pilot newspaper has reported.

While Captain Richard Phillips was hailed as a hero, his former crew members say his actions put them in grave danger when the ship sailed within about 250 miles of the African coast despite warnings to stay at least 600 miles offshore because of the threat of piracy.

The 2009 incident captured the world's attention after the ship's skipper Captain Richard Phillips offered himself as hostage to the pirates in return for his crew and ship's freedom.

The brigands accepted, but the incident ended when elite US navy Seals snipers later shot three of them dead and freed Phillips.

Out of a 20-strong crew, 11 members have launched legal actions against their former corporate bosses claiming that it – via Phillips' actions – put them at risk.

They say Phillips ignored warnings about pirate activity and sailed too close to the notoriously pirate-infested Somali shore.

They are seeking in total almost $50m in damages. "Phillips and Maersk put the men in harm's way, in spite of warnings to keep them out of the pirate-infested waters. They did so for financial gain," Deborah Waters, attorney for the crew members, told the newspaper.

Somaliahas now been without a central government for more than two decades. It has been wracked by civil war, foreign intervention and religious conflict, and highly lucrative piracy operations have sprung up along its coastline.

Foreign ships and their crews passing by are frequently captured and held to ransom – an activity that has prompted an international naval coalition to patrol near Somali waters.

However, few incidents of Somali piracy have received as much renown as the Maersk Alabama attack.

In a statement given to The Pilot the company Maersk said the lawsuits were "meritless."Previous lawsuits from the incident were filed in Texas but have been held up by complex processes of litigation. The bottom-line should owners be sued if they put you in harm’s way?

In similar news, the saga of the Maersk Alabama, which was attacked by Somali pirates three years ago, is set to be made into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks. Hanks' film is based on Phillips' book about his experiences called "A Captain' Duty". It will be directed by Paul Greengrass, whose previous films include The Bourne Ultimatum.