Bullying Blog: As the School Year Comes to a Close…
By: Richard Bernstein 6/14/13 This was a memorable week in our fight to eradicate bullying from Michigan’s schools. As the school year comes to a...
Richard’s Recent Work in England
By Richard Bernstein It was a great honor to have recently returned from traveling to London to work with Chabad Lubavitch UK. Chabad Lubavitch is...
Auto Accidents: The Basics
A car accident can be a traumatic experience, no matter how serious. Even experienced, cautious drivers can be involved in accidents due to the negligent...

What You Need To Know:

Disabled Man Forced off Cruise Ship

WJBK FOX 2 News
4/14/11

Huel Perkins:
A Michigan man on a Caribbean Cruise says he was forced off the ship and had to find his own way home. He’s disabled, but was told he would get no help while on board. Fox 2’s Bill Gallagher with that story.

Bill Gallagher:
Jim Keskeny is no stranger to travel. He’s attended conferences around the world on behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. But in February he took a pleasure trip. A ten day cruise in the Caribbean on a Miami based Celebrity Cruise Ship, Sentry. He paid $4,000.

Jim Keskeny:
The Celebrity website indicated in every check that I did that they were ADA compliant, and that they would make it a wonderful trip for me and gave a heck of a good sales pitch as to all the wonderful things they had.

Bill Gallagher:
As required by federal law and a supreme court decision Jim expected the ship was in compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act. But he found deficiencies. After falling in a bathroom, Jim says he was told he had to leave.

Jim Keskeny:
The first afternoon I was told that I could not ask any of the Celebrity staff to lift me, or assist me, or touch me in any way, or if I did I would be thrown off the ship at the next port.

Bill Gallagher:
Jim was put off the ship at Guadalupe and paid $1,500 of his own money for a plane trip back to Detroit. Attorney Richard Bernstein is preparing a federal lawsuit against Celebrity and its owner Royal Caribbean International.

Richard Bernstein:
What Royal Caribbean is doing is they are putting seniors and disabled people at risk, and the reason that’s happening is because they are not following basic federal law and basic federal guidelines.

Bill Gallagher:
Bernstein wants to recover the cost of the cruise and Jim’s plane ticket but he sees broader issues.

Richard Bernstein:
This is just the tip of the iceberg within this corporation. And I think what’s happening is, is that what Jim has basically done is he has exposed the fact that this industry, especially Royal Caribbean, is basically not following federal law.

Bill Gallagher:
In a letter to the law firm, a representative for the cruise line claimed Jim required extensive special assistance and care, 24/7.

Jim Keskeny:
If the ship had been truly accessible, in terms of me being able to slide out of my wheelchair to the bed as I do at home by myself, and get on and off toilets, there would have been no issue.

Bill Gallagher:
Calls to Celebrity Cruise’s public relations and legal departments for comment were not immediately returned. In Farmington Hills, Bill Gallagher, Fox 2 News.

Top

Our Clients:

"The Bernstein family of lawyers . . . I trust them, I believe in them, and you can too."

"You can really talk to the Bernstein family of lawyers. They are good people you can trust."

"The Bernsteins took care of me and my family. The Bernstein Law Firm put me first. The Bernsteins are great lawyers."

"If you need legal help, then you need to call the Bernsteins - the Bernstein Law Firm."

"The Bernstein Law Firm worked tirelessly to get me the compensation I deserved."

"I wanted to put the history and experience of three generation of Bernstein lawyers to work for me. And it worked."

"The Bernstein family treated me like I was family. Fighting for me. The Bernstein Law Firm was with me every step of the way."

"The Bernstein Law Firm fought for me and got me results."

"I called the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein. It was the best call I ever made."

"Sam Bernstein fought for my rights, stayed with it, and never quit."

"Sam's office did what they said they would do."

"I knew I needed help in the fight. I knew I shouldn’t do this on my own. I Called Sam. Sam fought for me and got results."

"I talked to Sam personally about my case…Sam Bernstein's office does it right."

"When I got hurt…I knew I needed a well-established law firm with substantial resources and experience."

"After my auto accident…I didn't really know what to do…I Called Sam. I'm glad I did."

"I Called Sam Bernstein. I needed a strong, trustworthy firm with a national reputation."

"After my son's fatal accident…I called his office. His office visited me at home and answered all of my questions. His firm is protecting my legal rights."

"I didn't know where to turn until I called Sam. Sam's office went right to work for me…I would strongly recommend Sam Bernstein."

"These are good people, working hard, to help those who need support through tough times. I am proud to know the Bernstein's and call them my friends."

"It was me against a large corporation. I knew I needed a tough smart attorney fighting for me. I'm glad I called Sam."

[read more]

Our Results:

Car/Truck Accident
$3,000,000
A truck driving recklessly and at an excessive speed strikes our client. Our client suffered catastrophic injuries.

Medical Malpractice
$2,875,000
Medical malpractice involving general anesthetic of a young child during surgery. Our client suffered severe and permanent brain damage.

Car Accident
$2,700,000
Our client's vehicle was rear-ended by a bus. Our client suffered a Closed Head Injury (CHI), coma condition, internal bleeding, and spinal trauma.

Burn Injury
$2,200,000
An explosion occurred while pumping gas. The explosion was caused by the gas station. Our client suffered major burns.

Burn Injury
$2,150,000
Our client, a young girl, suffered electrical burns resulting in permanent scarring.