In a dramatic twist of fate, the family of renowned French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet has filed a staggering $50 million lawsuit against OceanGate, the operator of the ill-fated Titan submersible. This lawsuit, a beacon of hope for justice, comes after Nargeolet, affectionately dubbed “Mr. Titanic,” met a tragic end alongside four others during a daring deep-sea expedition to the Titanic wreck in June 2023.
The estate of the French man Paul-Henri Nargeolet filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday against OceanGate, the company that created the Titan submersible that exploded last year. https://t.co/rFJ0B8KAp5 pic.twitter.com/xi4GdfheTW
— KSNT 27 News (@KSNTNews) August 8, 2024
The lawsuit, lodged in King County, Washington, unveils a nightmarish scenario of the Titan’s final moments. Approximately 90 minutes into the descent, the submersible jettisoned its weights, a desperate maneuver indicating an aborted mission. Experts surmise that in these harrowing moments, the crew became chillingly aware of their impending doom. The lawsuit hauntingly declares, “Common sense dictates that the crew were well aware they were going to die, before dying.”
As the Titan plummeted deeper, the lawsuit contends that the crew might have heard the eerie crackling of the carbon fiber hull buckling under immense pressure. The submersible lost all communication, and possibly power, trapping the crew in a terrifying, inescapable descent, fully conscious of the vessel’s catastrophic failure.
The family of a man who died in the Titan sub implosion last summer just filed a $50 million lawsuit against OceanGate for negligence. We break down the complaint and the WA ties to this case. @komonews pic.twitter.com/cqLTiXjonR
— Jackie Kent (@JackieKentNews) August 8, 2024
Through their attorneys, Nargeolet’s family has fiercely criticized OceanGate for failing to disclose critical information about the Titan’s myriad design flaws and safety risks. The lawsuit brands the Titan as having a “troubled history,” highlighting its unconventional design and lack of independent safety verification as glaring oversights. Tony Buzbee, the family’s attorney, emphasized that the lawsuit’s goal is to “get answers for the family, uncover the truth, and hold those responsible accountable.”
OceanGate, based in Washington state, has since halted operations and remained silent on the lawsuit. The legal action also implicates the estate of Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s CEO, and the Titan’s operator on its final, fateful dive. Rush is portrayed in the lawsuit as an eccentric, risk-taking innovator whose audacious decisions led to the tragedy.
The Titan’s implosion, which also claimed the lives of British adventurer Hamish Harding and prominent Pakistani nationals Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, has sparked an intense debate over the safety and future of private deep-sea exploration. The catastrophe, occurring just 984 feet from the Titanic’s bow, underscores the perilous nature of such ventures.
OceanGate has been sued for $50 million for gross negligence by the family of a French explorer who died on the submersible. ^MK#MintoFM#OlympicsIkoKBC pic.twitter.com/IwDOveIvuK
— MintoFM (@MintoFmradio) August 8, 2024
In the wake of this disaster, the U.S. Coast Guard has launched a comprehensive investigation, with a critical public hearing scheduled for September. This investigation aims to unearth the facts surrounding the incident and could potentially influence future regulations for deep-sea exploration.
Nargeolet, who had conducted 37 dives to the Titanic and served as the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic Inc., was a titan in the realm of underwater exploration. The lawsuit posits that he would never have participated in the Titan expedition had he been fully aware of the sub’s deficiencies.
The lawsuit ultimately blames the implosion on the “persistent carelessness, recklessness, and negligence” of OceanGate and its associates. While Nargeolet may have perished doing what he loved, the lawsuit asserts that his death, along with those of his fellow explorers, was both wrongful and avoidable. This legal battle seeks to bring justice and accountability for the lives lost in this tragic underwater odyssey.
Major Points
- Family of Paul-Henri Nargeolet sues OceanGate for $50 million, citing gross negligence.
- Crew aboard the Titan experienced terror and mental anguish before the sub’s implosion.
- OceanGate accused of hiding critical safety issues and design flaws of the Titan.
- The disaster has sparked a broader debate on the safety of private deep-sea exploration.
- The U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation may shape future regulatory frameworks.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings