Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.
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Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., 545 U.S. 119 (2005) was a United States Supreme Court decision that determined (in a 6-3 majority) that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to foreign cruise ships in American waters. The case was argued February 28, 2005 and decided June 6, 2005.
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[edit] Prior history
Douglas Spector and the four other disabled plaintiffs are bound to mobility scooters and wheelchairs. They sued Norwegian Cruise Line under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act after traveling aboard cruise ships (the Norwegian Sea and the Norwegian Star) registered in the Bahamas. Spector had purchased premium tickets, which were marketed as more handicap friendly. However, the ship was not easily accessible. He had limited or no access to swimming pools, restaurants, elevators, and public restrooms because of physical barriers. The premium room was of lower quality than less expensive non-wheelchair friendly rooms. He was not allowed to participate in emergency drills and no emergency exit plan was laid out for disabled persons. Norwegian Cruise Line argued that American laws did not apply to the cruise liner because it was registered in the Bahamas. The cruise line's ships, however, were based out of Miami, Florida ports.
Spector first sued the cruise liner in federal district court in Houston, Texas (Spector's home town). The court ruled against Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. saying that despite their foreign flag they must abide by American laws when in American waters. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned the lower court and moved for the case to be dismissed. Spector appealed the case to the Supreme Court and it heard the case on February 28, 2005.
[edit] The bench
The Supreme Court gave its decision on June 6, 2005. The judgment of the Fifth Circuit was reversed and the case was remanded. The makeup of the Supreme Court and their opinions were:
[edit] Opinion
- Written by: Justice Anthony Kennedy
- Joined by: Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, and in part by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Clarence Thomas
[edit] Dissenting
- Written by: Justice Antonin Scalia
- Joined by: Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and in part by Justice Clarence Thomas
