October 8, 2025
GrayRobinson is pleased to share Attorneys Michael Drahos and Cooper Jarnagin presented "Sea Sick: Medical Duty and Negligence in Maritime Law" at the 2025 Carnival Claims Symposium “From Deck to Docket: Navigating Claims in the Cruise Industry” in Hollywood Beach, Fla. The symposium offered 10 CLE credits approved by The Florida Bar.
During their session, Michael and Cooper focused on defending medical negligence claims under maritime law, with a particular emphasis on the unique medical standards of care owed by cruise lines to their passengers. The presentation was part of a broader program that included discussions on slip and fall liability, assault claims, crew contracts and arbitrations, shore excursion liabilities, and updates on recent legal developments in the cruise industry.
Based in the firm’s West Palm Beach office, Michael focuses his practice defending maritime medical malpractice claims, including cases of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death. He possesses deep experience relating to claims asserted against the passenger vessel and cruise industry, having defended shipboard doctors and nurses for over 20 years. He regularly represents shipboard doctors and nurses located throughout every region of the world and has been instrumental in developing jurisdictional defenses for foreign defendants facing claims in the United States. Michael also frequently lectures on numerous topics relating to maritime medical malpractice litigation at various cruise line industry seminars and conventions.
Also located in the firm's West Palm Beach office, Cooper represents some of the world’s largest cruise lines in high-exposure admiralty claims and complex maritime litigation. His expertise in this unique area of law includes passenger and crewmember claims alleging medical malpractice, sexual assault, over-service, wrongful death, unsafe workplace, deficient provision of maintenance and cure, and personal injury. Board-certified by The Florida Bar in Admiralty and Maritime Law, Cooper leverages his legal knowledge and practical litigation experience to assist his clients in a wide range of maritime industry matters.