Norwegian Cruise Line calls on judge to block Florida vaccine law

Norwegian Cruise Line, in a court hearing on Friday, urged a federal judge to block the Florida government. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantis Heads of State Education Secretary: “Don’t Be The Reason Schools Are Down” Florida Children’s Hospitals See Pediatric COVID-19 Cases Soar The Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – McConnell plays ‘the long game’ on government funding, reconciliation MORE(R) the ban on vaccine passports, moving forward with his lawsuit last month against the state’s surgeon general over the measure.

Norwegian lawyer Derek Shaffer, in a remote hearing, defended the company’s requirement that customers must provide proof of vaccination to board their ships, noting that Florida’s emergence as a that new epicenter of COVID-19 infections proves once again the company’s need to protect its workers.

“It’s scary what’s going on in Florida. Florida is a hot spot, ”Shaffer told US District Judge Kathleen Williams, according to the Associated Press. “All we do is try to protect our staff and our passengers.

“This law is expected to be fatal on arrival,” Shaffer added, arguing that DeSantis and state GOP lawmakers have pushed for the ban to “score political points,” the AP reported.

Meanwhile, Florida state attorney Pete Patterson said the so-called vaccine passport ban, which DeSantis enacted in May, helps prevent companies from discriminating against passengers who have chosen not to. not get vaccinated.

“You cannot discriminate against customers based on their refusal to give you information,” Patterson argued Friday. “If it weren’t for this law, a vaccination passport would be required to board a cruise ship.”

Norwegian seeks a temporary injunction preventing Florida from enforcing its law as the cruise line seeks to leave Florida on August 15 with one of its 28 cruise ships.

The Miami-based company said in its lawsuit last month against the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida that “an abnormal and ill-advised intrusion threatens to spoil NCLH’s careful planning and force it to cancel or obstruct upcoming cruises, thus jeopardizing and compromising the passenger experience and inflicting irreparable damage of vast dimensions ”.

Norwegian said at the time that the lawsuit against Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees was “a last resort” to defend the safety of its crew and passengers, as well as its First Amendment right to communicate freely with customers. .

The AP reported that Williams did not immediately rule on whether to grant the temporary injunction on Friday.

The lawsuit comes as Florida finds itself in a separate legal battle with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has sought to enforce COVID-19 health and safety requirements that cruise ships must adopt before to be able to set sail.

Earlier this year, DeSantis filed a lawsuit against the CDC, arguing it did not have the legal authority to impose navigation orders and health requirements on ships.

While an appeals court initially sided with the CDC last month, the same court later overturned that ruling, allowing a previous order that sets out CDC rules rather than requirements.