Krupski v. Costa Crociere: A “Sleeper” Case Before the Supreme Court That Could Dramatically Impact Civil Rights Plaintiffs’ Ability to Hold Their Wrongdoers Accountable
By Melanie Hirsch, Public Justice Brayton-Baron Fellow
In January 2010, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Krupski v. Costa Crociere, a case that has received little attention but is likely to have a huge impact on the ability of civil rights plaintiffs to hold accountable the defendants who harmed them.
Wanda Krupski was injured while a passenger on the cruise ship Costa Magica. Upon her return, she provided notice of her injury to Costa Cruise, the entity through which she had booked her cruise and which had sent her travel documents. After unsuccessful settlement negotiations with Costa Cruise, Ms. Krupski sued. In its answer to the complaint, Costa Cruise asserted that it was merely the North American sales and booking agent for the ship operator, Costa Crociere, which was the proper defendant. Ms. Krupski accordingly amended her complaint to add Costa Crociere as a party. But Costa Crociere—represented by the same counsel as Costa Cruise—argued that it had been sued after the expiration of the one-year limitations period set by Ms. Krupski’s ticket and that the suit against it therefore could not proceed. READ MORE.
READ ALL OF OUR ACCESS TO JUSTICE UPDATES