A $25 million lawsuit has been filed against cruise line SeaDream Yacht Club by a North Carolina woman alleging rape by a ship crew member.
The 46-year old woman, who is a repeat customer of SeaDream, alleges rape during a voyage in June 2015, naming bartender Rui Manuel Duarte Guerreiro as defendant.
The attack lasted for an extended period of time, the lawsuit says, and the woman suffered physical pain and mental anguish.
She also incurred medical expenses including psychiatric care.
"My client is extremely brave to tell her story publicly. Her primary motivation is raising public awareness of the hidden dangers at sea and making sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else," attorney Michael Winkelman said in a statement.
The law firm says a lawsuit is the only option for the plaintiff as the attack took place in international waters and the defendant is a Portuguese national.
The lawsuit is seeking damages of $25 million and is demanding a jury trial.
