P&O Cruises is facing scrutiny from the Carter Capner Law following the tragic death of Shane Dixon, who accumulated a $9,000 casino debt and fell overboard on May 6 in a suspected suicide.
The Australian law firm, led by former national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance Peter Carter, is probing the cruise line’s potentially deceptive practices and unlawful treatment of passengers.
The firm has criticised P&O for offering excessive gambling incentives like free drinks and cruises, as well as engaging in the illegal detention of passengers over debts.
According to witnesses gamblers were told self-exclusion was not an option or were interrogated and held onboard by staff after being unable to settle their bills. Preventing passengers and their relatives from disembarking until gambling debts were settled was unlawful, Carter said.
The investigation aims to explore legal avenues for affected passengers to recover financial losses and seek damages for unlawful confinement. Carter told media that the conduct of P&O not only breached ‘ethical standards’ but also violated Australian law.
Why would you top yourself for $9,000? Not sure about that. I’d be pretty annoyed but prefer to live and pay off the debt bit by bit. Anyway stupid terrible habit is gambling, usually doesn’t pay.