29 July 2025
The liability findings stood
The Full Federal Court dismissed both the cruise companies’ challenge to liability and lead applicant Susan Karpik’s challenge to the assessment of her damages. Its judgment upheld the negligence and consumer-law findings about the failure to cancel the cruise and warn passengers of the heightened risk. This was a civil judgment, not a criminal conviction.
29 July 2025
A finding of liability was not a payment to everyone
The court credited Karpik’s fare refund against her damages for distress and disappointment. Her individual injury assessment did not meet the statutory threshold for non-economic loss damages. Those conclusions concerned her case; they did not decide the amount, if any, owed to each other passenger.
December 2025
Other claims moved to individual assessment
The court-approved notice set out a process for registered group members’ claims to be examined by independent referees. Claimants would need evidence of their own loss, and the companies could defend the claims. Referees’ reports required court approval before damages could be paid. The notice established a procedure; it did not announce a completed payout.
13 March 2026 · registration deadline
The registration window closed
The notice set 13 March 2026 as the registration deadline. Shine Lawyers’ current case page says registration is closed. Its account says the court-approved notice was sent in December 2025. This deadline was a step in the claims process, rather than a finding that every claim had been assessed or paid.
Court-approved claims notice · December 2025 · Registration status · Shine Lawyers · checked 10 October 2026
The evidence
Sources for this update
Where the story stands
The story continues when the evidence does.
Status checked on 10 October 2026. Registration is closed, but the inspected sources do not provide a complete account of final assessments or payments to all group members. The July 2025 judgment and later claims procedure establish meaningful legal steps; they do not establish universal compensation. This is a report on the case, not individual claims advice.