JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The company that owns the Jacksonville-based cargo ship that went down near Puerto Rico during Hurricane Joaquin last Oct. 1 has agreed to a settlement with 10 of the 33 mariners who were lost at sea.
"Since the loss of the El Faro, we have focused every effort on supporting the families of those on board. An important part of this support has entailed reaching fair and swift legal settlements for those who may choose them," TOTE Maritime officials said in a statement released Monday. "We can confirm that we have settled financially with 10 families through a respectful and equitable mediation process. We stress that our support of all the families will continue."
While TOTE officials said they would not release details of the settlement "out of respect for the legal process and the privacy of the families," court documents show that each family will receive $500,000 each for pain and suffering plus compensation for lost wages and other losses.
READ: Sea Star Line LLC, dba TOTE Maritime, Notice of settlement
The families included in the settlement include the captain, the five Polish crew members and four others, including Jacksonville Beach resident Roan Lightfoot. Claims for the remaining 23 crew members, many of whom were from Jacksonville, are still pending, as well as claims from owners of lost cargo.
Maritime Attorney Rod Sullivan represents one victim’s family who did not settle on Monday.
"I have to admit, I am a bit surprised that people have settled so early. Really, there’s no discovery that’s been done yet, no hearings, no motions and therefore, it surprised me that it settled so quickly," Sullivan said.
Sullivan said upcoming mediation will allow his clients to decide for themselves, the best way to move forward.
"For some people, they just want to get the litigation over with and get on with their lives, and for them the settlement may be the proper solution. And we tend to forget that these are the client's cases; they are not the lawyers’ cases. And the clients decide when the amount of money is right," Sullivan said.
TOTE had asked a federal judge to limit or release its liability, and company officials have claimed that the El Faro was maintained properly and in good condition.
After weeks of searching for the sunken ship, a special Navy deep-sea exploration ship found the wreckage, but not the ship's data recorder. The National Transportation Safety Board released video last month showing the remains of the El Faro.