The White Island volcano tour in New Zealand offered an incredible experience with more than a hint of danger - “you'll see the likes of roaring steam vents and ash-soaked ground as well as deposits of vivid yellow sulphur”.
Two of the badly burnt survivors if the ill-fated tour to the island on 9 December 2019 were American, so they sued Royal Caribbean, the cruise line, in Florida where they could expect to receive a sympathetic jury trial and to be awarded punitive damages.
But Royal Caribbean has other plans.
It wants to force the all 25 survivors and relatives of the 22 dead to sue in New South Wales, where there are no jury trials and no punitive damages. Royal Caribbean may not be liable at all given that they will use the 'obvious risk' defence to avoid liability.