George Allen Smith IV-Msg from Cruise [Archive]

awakening2lite

02-20-2008, 02:13 PM

http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Images/george_jennifer_smith.jpg
George Allen Smith IV and Jennifer Hagel Smith

http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/LatestMemberStories/George_Allen_Smith_IV_Spouse_Story.html

Royal Caribbean Honeymoon Tragedy
By Jennifer Hagel Smith

On July 5, 2005, my husband, George A. Smith IV, tragically went overboard during our honeymoon cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean ship, Brilliance of the Seas.

After being together since June 8, 2002, George and I were ecstatic to get married and embark on a romantic 12-day Mediterranean cruise that we had excitedly planned together. We were halfway through our honeymoon cruise that was nearly as joyous and memorable as our wedding day...until the unthinkable happened.

A night that began with a romantic dinner for two ended with the tragic death of my husband. George had "accidentally" fallen overboard, according to cruise officials and the ship's captain. Not realizing anything was amiss until receiving this horrifying news from cruise employees who had found blood beneath our balcony, I began going in and out of shock. The nightmare for all of us had just begun.

Though we assume that we have all of the rights of U.S. citizens aboard these mainly American cruises, the captain insisted I leave the ship in order to undergo a day of interrogation by Turkish officials. The captain lied about where I was going and with whom, but more importantly he appeared satisfied to get me off the ship, expedite the investigation, and keep his schedule. The captain did not seem very concerned about my husband, and to this day has repeatedly lied about how this tragic news was relayed to us, the way he conducted himself the day George disappeared, and how he prematurely labeled this “an accident” and influenced the way in which George’s death was investigated from the start.

We wish that the ship could have remained in Turkey so that other important witnesses and people of interest could have been interviewed and/or interrogated as well. Crucial statements from neighboring cabins were not taken, along with statements from all of the passengers last seen with George, as well as crew members. It seems that an abundance of evidence and many important clues sailed away that evening with the cruise ship as opposed to being uncovered by the FBI who did not board the ship until two days later. George and I left together Newlyweds, in love and so excited about our trip. Now, I was flying home alone, a distraught and confused widow, and all of our lives would never be the same again.

Months and months pass by, and we still have no answers. Our future together along with all of our hopes and dreams had been shattered, and we all simply deserve to know the truth behind what happened to George. One by one, as each family member and friend learned of this tragic news, their hearts were breaking for George, for the life we would no longer share, for the children he would never have, and for our families and friends devastated by his untimely death.

My family and I miss George desperately, and are dedicated to unfolding the mystery surrounding his death. We seek answers that can only be found with vital information held by the cruise line. We continue to pray for Royal Caribbean to have the courage and heart to give us, his distraught family and friends, the information and answers we need in order to find peace and justice for George.

George’s caring and compassionate nature, his witty sense of humor and zest for life made him someone my family and friends loved to be around. To George, his friends from both home and college meant the world to him, and he considered them all to be his family. From the very beginning, we both knew we had found a great love in each other, and George quickly became a part of my very large and loving family. My parents considered George to be like another son to them, and my siblings considered George to be their new brother long before we were ever married. We have all suffered an immeasurable loss, and with each day that goes by without answers, the hole in our hearts grows exponentially bigger. We love you and miss you, George. We also pray for the entire Smith family as they are now my family too. We know that George’s death has also created a huge hole in your lives too. I will love George forever.

I continue to offer a $100,000 REWARD for new information directly leading to the arrest or conviction of the person or persons responsible for my husband George’s death. Someone knows the truth about my husband’s death. Will you help?

http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Images/George_Allen_Smith_IV_lg1.jpghttp://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Images/George_Allen_Smith_IV_lg2.jpg
http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/LatestMemberStories/George_Allen_Smith_IV.html

His families story

George A. Smith IV, aged 26 years old, our beloved son and brother, went missing from the Royal Caribbean “Brilliance of the Seas” on July 5, 2005 between Greece and Turkey. In the days following his disappearance, despite numerous desperate requests, we were informed by Royal Caribbean that they had “no news” regarding George’s disappearance with a ‘business as usual’ attitude. Royal Caribbean never even informed us that the Turkish authorities were conducting a criminal investigation into George’s disappearance. They also failed to tell us that there were suspicious circumstances surrounding his disappearance, such as earwitness complaints of fighting in his cabin and blood in his cabin and on a metal overhang below his balcony.

Royal Caribbean failed to lock down the cruise ship in Kusadasi, Turkey, the next port of call after George’s disappearance. Passengers and crew members were free to disembark as usual, potentially taking crucial evidence off of the cruise ship with them. The Turkish authorities investigated the crime onboard for approximately two hours after Royal Caribbean crew members had already contaminated the crime scene. The Turkish police were rushed off the boat so that the cruise ship could make the next port of call on schedule. The “Brilliance of the Seas” sailed off into the sunset with the murderers on board, therefore, jeopardizing the safety of all the other passengers on board.
http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Images/George_Allen_Smith_IV_lg3.jpg

George’s disappearance prompted a Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. on December 12, 2005 on cruise safety. It has also received international media coverage. Royal Caribbean’s response to the media coverage has been to hire a scandal management attorney, to consistently lie about their actions and inactions and to victimize and scandalize George and our family to draw attention away from Royal Caribbean’s misdeeds.
The Connecticut Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice continue to actively investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding George’s disappearance. According to media reports, a grand jury has been convened in Connecticut to search for answers into who murdered George.

George’s life will not be taken in vain, as his death has already called attention to the dire need for reform in the under-regulated cruise industry

awakening2lite

02-21-2008, 02:09 PM

http://www.cruisebruise.com/George_Allen_Smith_IV_3.html

EXCERPTS

Widow Jennifer Hagel Snith Settles With RCCI

Only a few hours later, Royal Caribbean Cruises announced it had reached a settlement with his George Allen Smith's widow, Jennifer Hagel Smith. "We have done our best to assist Jennifer through the tragic events involving the disappearance of her husband," Goldstein said. "She has handled herself well under the most trying of circumstances and we applaud her constructive approach to resolving this matter -- so much so that our company will also match a contribution by Ms. Hagel Smith to a charity of her choosing.

Hagel Smith attorney James Walker said he and Hagel-Smith are convinced that there are passengers who were criminally involved in her husband's disappearance. Royal Caribbean has promised in its settlement to give her unfettered access to information, such as vessel logs, video and passenger statements of what they heard, saw and did during the hours of Smith's disappearance. Walker and Hagel Smith say the settlemet was the fast way for them to get access to information that could help them solve the case.

This settlement was reached, while the FBI are still investigation the case.

Greenwich probate court must approve the settlement, deciding if the settlement is in the best interests of the estate. The Smiths have said through their lawyer that they intend to object.

Update: July 12, 2006

Witness Josh Askin, one of the four men to be last seen with George Allen Smith, one who said they 'tucked George into bed, then left", has filed a civil suit against Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL), alleging invasion of privacy, causing emotional distress, false imprisonment and breach of contract.

The suit is asking for a minimum of $15,000 in damages. The suit was filed in Miami, Florida. This is the third suit filed against RCCL related to this case, so far.

Update: August 4, 2006

In a routine move in court, lawyers for Royal Caribbean Cruise Inc, filed a motion to dismiss, in the civil lawsuit against the cruise line, brought by the family of George Allen Smith IV.

The cruise line calls the lawsuit false and frivolous allegations, saying they were thanked by the FBI for their assistance in the case.

The family alleges the cruise line delayed reporting the incident to the FBI, didn't preserve the crime scene, deliberately portrayed the incident as an accident.

Update: October 16, 2006

Judge Jon I. Gordon granted a motion today to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the family of George Allen Smith IV, faulting Royal Caribbean International its handling of the case.

"It's a setback, of course, but it's not the end," maritime lawyer Brett Rivkind told Greenwich Time Thursday. "The Smith family isn't discouraged. Whether the Smith family won or lost, the issue is going to be decided in an appellate court."

Update: January 4, 2007

Jennifer Hagel Smith gets a settlement from Royal Caribbean Cruise International for ONE MILLION dollars. The money will be paid to the estate of George Allen Smith IV. The courts still have to approve the settlement. The investigation into her husband's death continues. But, in the settlement RCCI has said they will show the widow all the evidence they have in the case. Royal Caribbean denies any wrongdoing and does not admit to any liability.

awakening2lite

05-06-2008, 06:40 PM

Court Upholds Settlement In Missing Passenger Case
May 3, 2008

A probate judge has upheld a settlement in one of the most notorious cases of a cruise ship passenger going overboard, and one where homicide seems like a strong possibility.

The judge approved a $1.1 million settlement that Jennifer Hagel Smith negotiated with Royal Caribbean after her husband, George Smith IV, disappeared on their honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean, the Greenwich Time reports. Smith's parents want to overturn the settlement so the cruise line can be sued for wrongful death.

Clearly, something went very wrong on that cruise. Smith's blood was found on the exterior of the ship after he disappeared. His body was never recovered.

The case renewed concern about safety on cruise ships, and questions about the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement in cases of on-board crime. The FBI says Smith's disappearance is still being investigated.

Yet only a handful of cruise ship disappearances over the years appear to have involved a violent crime or even an accident. (Contrary to popular belief, it's not easy to "fall off" a cruise ship.) Many cases appear to have involved some combination of heavy drinking and suicidal intent, although it doesn't help clear things up that bodies are often not recovered.

Last month, just for instance, an Illinois man disappeared from a Carnival cruise. His wife believes he was robbed and thrown overboard. The FBI has said that it does not suspect foul play.

Of course, we don't know what happened in that case. And even when there is no "foul play," the cruise lines may bear some responsibility -- especially if they serve alcohol to passengers who are already drunk.

source: http://blogs.courant.com/travel_columnists_leblanc/2008/05/court-upholds-settlement-in-mi.html

Nut44x4

07-18-2008, 06:10 PM

Jul 18, 2:38 PM EDT

Missing man's widow says he mixed booze with pills

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- The widow of a Connecticut man who disappeared during their honeymoon cruise said Friday that her husband had mixed prescription drugs with alcohol the night he vanished three years ago on the Mediterranean Sea.

The widow, Jennifer Hagel Smith, said her husband's family has refused to acknowledge the possibility that George Smith's intoxication from alcohol and prescription drugs may have been a factor in an accidental death. Instead, she said they have insisted Smith was a victim of foul play despite a lack of evidence.

"In the three years since George's disappearance, the Smiths or their representatives have described a crime scene in the cabin on the ship that simply didn't exist," said Richard Sheeley, Hagel Smith's attorney.

"They have published reports of blood evidence that the families now know is baseless," he said, "and they have conjured up a conspiracy that never existed between the cruise line, investigators and, eventually, even the young woman they once welcomed into their family as a daughter."

The conspiracy, Sheeley said, was that the Royal Caribbean cruise line was withholding information from the Smith family.

Smith, of Greenwich, was taking the antidepressant Zoloft and Clonazepam, which treats anxiety and panic disorders, Sheeley said. A doctor had advised him not to drink alcohol while taking the drugs, he said.

Hagel Smith is not saying the prescription drugs and alcohol caused her husband's death, Sheeley said.

"But it could have contributed to an accident that caused his death," he said.

The claim that George Smith used alcohol and prescription drugs the night he disappeared came in a new legal filing Friday in Stamford Superior Court.

Hagel Smith filed a response to an appeal by Smith's relatives, who are challenging a nearly $1.1 million settlement she reached with Royal Caribbean. The deal was approved by a probate court.

Michael Jones, a lawyer for Smith's family, said Sheeley's comments were not accurate, but declined to elaborate. He said Smith's family continues to believe he was a victim of foul play.

Hagel Smith did not want to disclose her husband's use of prescription drugs, but was forced to do so because of his family's "relentless" litigation, Sheeley said.

Hagel Smith has received numerous documents, including cabin access records and statements made to investigators, Sheeley said.

"There's no evidence we can see of murder," Sheeley said.

He said that there was only a "spec" of blood found in the cabin, and that what was originally believed to be blood on a towel turned out to be makeup.

George Smith was on a honeymoon cruise aboard a Royal Caribbean ship in July 2005 when he vanished somewhere between Greece and Turkey. His body has never been found.

The FBI has investigated Smith's disappearance, but no one has been charged.

In the appeal, Smith's parents and sister said his widow agreed to an inadequate settlement with the cruise ship line to avoid embarrassing disclosures about her conduct.

His disappearance followed a night of heavy drinking. The cruise line said his wife was found passed out on a floor far from their cabin.

Smith's attorney has cited reports of Hagel Smith's drinking and that she argued with her husband the night he disappeared, kicked him in the groin and left the ship's bar. Hagel Smith has called those accounts "ridiculous" and "outlandish."

Hagel Smith's other lawyer, Elizabeth Byrne, said any embarrassing behavior that may have occurred had already been reported and was not a motivation to settle. She said the probate ruling showed the settlement was reasonable and that her client acted in good faith.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CT_CRUISE_DISAPPEARANCE_CTOL-?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

TobyTiger

07-20-2008, 02:53 PM

VERY interesting article.

Having followed this case since it's inception, I am curious why the information regarding the prescription drugs is just coming out now...especially after much finger pointing toward the wife as perhaps being involved. One would think she would want to clear her name much sooner than three years after the fact.

Personally, I still don't believe he simply 'fell overboard' unless he had been sitting on the railing.

FoolsGold

01-15-2009, 04:49 PM

I still don't believe he simply 'fell overboard' unless he had been sitting on the railing.
Rather difficult to fall overboard. The awning on which he landed and left a bloodstain has an exterior lip making it rather unlikely he simply slid off that awning as the ship rolled. The external ladder which would be used to drag him off that awning was stowed two decks down and required a key to operate, so its ships officers or else a freak of nature. The trouble is with all those computer controlled stabilizers, those cruise ships don't roll as they used to.

sarahhod

01-29-2009, 03:54 AM

Missing Greenwich man's court records may soon be released

By Debra Friedman
STAFF WRITER
Posted: 01/28/2009 07:52:46 PM EST

Sealed court records about a town man who disappeared from a Royal Caribbean ship during his honeymoon in 2005 may be made public soon after a motion for their release was argued Wednesday in probate court.
The attorney for George Smith's family said he believes Judge David Hopper will release the transcript of a May probate hearing in which the court upheld the Smith widow's settlement with the cruise line. However, the judge ruled to continue the case for 60 days so several parties can determine if redactions are necessary.
"He made it clear a good portion will be open to the public," said attorney Michael Jones, of Ivey, Barnum and O'Mara, who is representing Smith's parents.
Attorney Elizabeth Byrne, who is representing Smith's widow, Jennifer Hagel Smith, said she asked to review the files before anything was released to ensure Hagel Smith was protected.
"I think a good portion will be unsealed after the 60-day period," said Byrne, adding that Hagel Smith feels it is appropriate for the records to be released after a review is made.
The Department of Justice and the FBI, which both have investigated the disappearance, will also review the records before Hopper rules on their release.
Jones said that the Smiths only wanted the records sealed to protect information that might have been part of a wrongful death lawsuit against the cruise line.
However, Jones said Wednesday that when Hagel Smith released information

in court records alleging that her husband mixed prescription drugs with alcohol the night he vanished nearly four years ago in the Mediterranean Sea, the need for confidentiality went out the window. "That was one of the prime things we were trying to keep confidential," said Jones.
The revelation of prescription drug and alcohol use came in July went Hagel Smith filed a response to an appeal by Smith's parents, who are currently challenging a nearly $1.1 million settlement she reached with Royal Caribbean. The deal has already been approved by the probate court.
Smith's parents have alleged that their daughter-in-law's fear of personal embarrassment about details surrounding that night clouded her judgment leading to the settlement. Hagel Smith, in an interview with The Associated Press, said she did not want to disclose her husband's use of prescription drugs, but was forced to because of his family's "relentless" litigation.
Smith's parents also claim the $1.1 million settlement falls short of their late son's earning capacity, which they believe to be $2.4 million.
Smith, who planned on taking over his father's Cos Cob Liquor Store, disappeared on July 5, 2005, while on a cruise of the Mediterranean. His body was never found.
Wednesday's hearing came on the heels of a Freedom of Information request made by the Greenwich Post, which asked the court to release the transcripts of the prior hearing that was closed to the public.

http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_11575199

texanne

01-29-2009, 07:08 PM

There are too many cases in the past couple of years where someone goes missing at sea. Would more security cameras and better lighting "shed a light" on what is going on?

sunstar

01-29-2009, 09:34 PM

There are too many cases in the past couple of years where someone goes missing at sea. Would more security cameras and better lighting "shed a light" on what is going on?
I think that would help a lot, but also some "real time" monitoring of the security cameras to catch somebody going overboard as they do and maybe be able to rescue them. MOO

sarahhod

01-30-2009, 05:49 AM

http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/mngi/tracking/track?s=237&c=11583398&t=VIEWED&n=1Judge to unseal Hagel Smith's transcript in 60 days

By Anne W. Semmes
Updated: 01/29/2009 05:23:41 PM EST

In what could be called the first break for the George Smith family whose son, George Smith IV, 26, disappeared mysteriously off a cruise ship on his honeymoon 3½ years ago, Probate Judge David Hopper, in a special hearing Wednesday in probate court, has moved to unseal in 60 days the transcript and other pertinent files of the hearing last May wherein Hopper upheld Smith's widow, Jennifer Hagel Smith's $1.1-million settlement with Royal Caribbean International.
The probate court hearing was closed to the press and public because Hopper cited the need for confidentiality. Seven months later, the efforts of a former Greenwich Citizen reporter, Joan Lownds, acting on behalf of the Greenwich Post, the press at large and the public to have the Court records be unsealed, have proved successful.
"What happened today is good news," said Mike Jones, attorney for the Smith family. "The public will get to see this transcript."
"This is good news," echoed Hopper. "In the next 60 days a great deal of this file will be unsealed," he said, pointing to a large briefcase on his desk, standing files, and a "thick" transcript.
"It's very appropriate," said Middletown attorney Elizabeth Byrne, representing Hagel Smith. "I'm inclined to believe this decision is in the interests of all involved. We made known specific items to be redacted, which are very few." The judge explained that both Smith parties and the Department of Justice would sift through the court material of exhibits, transcript, and deposition given by Jennifer Hagel Smith," he said, "to make sure not any issues will have an adverse impact on the estate or witness who testified in confidentiality."
How the unsealed material will affect the pending appeal the George Smith family has made to the Stamford Superior Court in protest of Hopper's settlement ruling in Hagel-Smith's favor is not known. The Smiths are challenging the settlement in order to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against Royal Caribbean. Their appeal is expected to be heard in February.
Also on the Smith family agenda was stated in Jones' Brief in Support of Unsealing the Court Records, "The Smiths, as parents of George Smith, have the interest that all parents would have in rehabilitating their son's reputation."
Shortly before the May 2008 hearing, Hagel Smith issued a press release alleging that her husband "was intoxicated from the combined effects of alcohol and prescription drugs." Jones said the Smith family remains perplexed about why Hagel Smith chose to release confidential information that the closed hearings were meant to protect.
Jones, speaking after the Wednesday hearing, said, "That information was the main thing they wanted to keep from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Co."
Jones was accompanied by two other defense attorneys for the Smith family, Donant Marchand and Eugene Riccio.
At the start of the proceedings, Lownds was asked by Hopper to make a statement. "I am asking that you unseal the transcript of the George Smith case," said Lownds, "because the information it contains is necessary to cover this important and highly publicized case fairly and accurately."
Lownds, who now writes for the Wilton Bulletin, has covered the Smith story since his July 4, 2005 disappearance, first as a reporter and Arts Editor for the Citizen. She has taken her investigations directly to the Royal Caribbean authorities.
Some time after last May's closed court hearing, Lownds enlisted the help and counsel of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, who informed her there was "no absolute, clear or state law regarding closed door hearings in Probate Court." Her formal request to the Probate Court that the Court records be unsealed was delivered on Dec. 10. A similar request was made by the George Smiths on Dec. 17, with Hopper's agreement to a hearing following earlier this month.
In her statements in Hopper's probate courtroom, Lownds referred the judge to a case in the Connecticut court records of Hartford Courant Co. v. Pellegrino in 2004, when the court ruled "the First Amendment does secure to the public and to the press a right of access to civil proceedings."
After a closed-door session with Maureen and George Smith, their daughter Bree, and their three attorneys along with Byrne, Hopper called in reporters with his decision to unseal. "The next 60 days the parties and the Dept. Of Justice will go through the exhibits, the transcript, the deposition of Jennifer Hagel Smith," he said.
"I'll take a look at anything redacted to see if it outweighs public purposes," he said. On March 30 at 1:30, he said, "we'll meet back here."

http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/topstories/ci_11583398

F~M

01-30-2009, 08:44 PM

It sure would be nice if his parents could learn what happened to him. I hope they get some answers.

awakening2lite

01-31-2009, 01:49 PM

It sure would be nice if his parents could learn what happened to him. I hope they get some answers.

See below

EXCERPT

How the unsealed material will affect the pending appeal the George Smith family has made to the Stamford Superior Court in protest of Hopper's settlement ruling in Hagel-Smith's favor is not known. The Smiths are challenging the settlement in order to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against Royal Caribbean. Their appeal is expected to be heard in February.

Also on the Smith family agenda was stated in Jones' Brief in Support of Unsealing the Court Records, "The Smiths, as parents of George Smith, have the interest that all parents would have in rehabilitating their son's reputation."

http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/topstories/ci_11583398

annalyzer

01-31-2009, 02:06 PM

Where was the wife when this man fell overboard? Had another question, was there achohol involved, but saw the answer halfway through the thread.

sunstar

01-31-2009, 04:46 PM

Where was the wife when this man fell overboard? Had another question, was there achohol involved, but saw the answer halfway through the thread.

She supposedly wasn't in the cabin and as I remember she was found passed out down a hallway and returned to the cabin by ship personnel. I've forgotten if it was on the same level or not. She did go back to the cabin sometime that morning and then to the spa. I've always thought she knows more than she's told, but that's just MOO. :frown:

sarahhod

01-31-2009, 04:53 PM

Court may soon unseal Smith case (http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19254:court-may-soon-unseal-smith-case&catid=10:greenwich-local&Itemid=1092)
(http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?view=article&catid=10%3Agreenwich-local&id=19254%3Acourt-may-soon-unseal-smith-case&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid=1092)
(http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?view=article&catid=10%3Agreenwich-local&id=19254%3Acourt-may-soon-unseal-smith-case&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=1092)
(http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_mailto&tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hY29ybi1vbmxpbmUuY29tL2pvb21sY TE1L2luZGV4LnBocD9vcHRpb249Y29tX2NvbnRlbnQmdmlldz1 hcnRpY2xlJmlkPTE5MjU0OmNvdXJ0LW1heS1zb29uLXVuc2Vhb C1zbWl0aC1jYXNlJmNhdGlkPTEwOmdyZWVud2ljaC1sb2NhbCZ JdGVtaWQ9MTA5Mg==) Friday, January 30, 2009 Breaking news | Posted 11:32 a.m., Friday, Jan. 30, 2009

Greenwich Probate Judge David Hopper granted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Post yesterday, pending a review by federal authorities. Judge Hopper decided to make public the bulk of the transcript of the probate hearing upholding Jennifer Hagel Smith’s $1-million settlement with Royal Caribbean International, after allowing the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) 60 days to review the records.

The Smith probate hearing, held last May, was closed to the press and public.
The Post had asked Judge Hopper to unseal the transcript on the probate appeal of Ms. Hagel Smith’s settlement, reached after her husband, 26-year-old George A. Smith IV of Greenwich, went missing on their 2005 honeymoon cruise. The settlement had been appealed by Mr. Smith’s parents, George III and Maureen. They challenged Ms. Hagel Smith’s out-of-court agreement so they could file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against Royal Caribbean. The Smiths are further appealing Judge Hopper’s upholding of the settlement in Stamford Superior Court.
At the hearing on the FOI request yesterday, the Post asked Judge Hopper to unseal the transcript of the Smith probate appeal because the information it contains “is necessary to cover the highly publicized case fairly and accurately.” The Post cited legal precedents for open court proceedings under the First Amendment and state and federal statutes.
Judge Hopper had initially cited a need for confidentiality because of future lawsuits in the case. Yesterday he said he wished to try to “balance constitutional rights and the best interests of the estate.” Judge Hopper also said yesterday he was concerned about the way “the adminstratrix in the case,” Ms. Hagel, was “cherry picking” information in the transcript to be made public.
Ms. Hagel issued a press release in July alleging that her husband mixed prescription drugs with alcohol the night he vanished nearly four years ago in the Mediterranean Sea. In the press release, she said she was “required to make public this information to defend against the Smith family’s attack on both the settlement agreement and her personally.”
FBI spokesmen have told the Post that the disappearance of Mr. Smith is still an active and ongoing investigation.
“We are pleased that Judge Hopper seems inclined to open the court record, subject to recommendations by the DOJ/FBI for redaction of sensitive items regarding the investigation,” Smith family attorney Mike Jones said in an e-mail to the Post after the hearing. “It was astonishing that Jennifer and her advisers felt that she should issue a press release, which revealed the alleged taking of the prescription drugs. Her concern about that issue was one of the main reasons the hearing was closed to the public in the first place. The odd thing was that there really was no good reason for her to violate the confidentiality order of the Probate Court to make that information public. When the transcript comes out, the full facts concerning that disclosure will also come out and the public will learn that her press release was not totally accurate.”
Elizabeth Byrne, attorney for Jennifer Hagel Smith, told the Post in an e-mail after the hearing that she opposed opening the transcript and that they are “aware that certain (but not many) items need to remain sealed.”
“Today, I made the court aware that the DOJ wishes to be afforded the opportunity to review and possibly request redaction of portions of the record if it feels that any portion, if released, would impair its investigation of this matter,” Ms. Byrne wrote. “I requested that the court allow the parties the same opportunity to identify items that we desire to be redacted. The court agreed and is allowing the Department of Justice and the parties 60 days for this purpose.”
Ms. Byrne said ultimately, it will be the court’s decision as to which of the items will be released and which will continue to be sealed.
“However, we anticipate that the bulk of the record will be unsealed and available to the press and public and we are quite satisfied with this,” she said.

Trailblazer

01-31-2009, 06:24 PM

See below

EXCERPT

How the unsealed material will affect the pending appeal the George Smith family has made to the Stamford Superior Court in protest of Hopper's settlement ruling in Hagel-Smith's favor is not known. The Smiths are challenging the settlement in order to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against Royal Caribbean. Their appeal is expected to be heard in February.

Also on the Smith family agenda was stated in Jones' Brief in Support of Unsealing the Court Records, "The Smiths, as parents of George Smith, have the interest that all parents would have in rehabilitating their son's reputation."

http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/topstories/ci_11583398

Ah this answers my question as to why the parents are challenging the settlement the wife got...

Firehead

02-10-2009, 05:48 AM

Ah this answers my question as to why the parents are challenging the settlement the wife got...

I am a little confused here. Wouldn't his wife be entitled to file for wrongful death and not his parents any longer?

Trailblazer

02-12-2009, 01:23 PM

I am a little confused here. Wouldn't his wife be entitled to file for wrongful death and not his parents any longer?

I would think so...but not sure what the rules are where they live..

Firehead

03-22-2009, 09:51 AM

Oh I have been cruising for a few years and even with the stabilizers they can get rolling from side to side. On one of the cruises in the Caribbean, we have such waves that we could see nothing but sky on one side of the ship and nothing but water on the other and then it would switch.

From my reading the parents are not satisfied with the amount that their son's widow got.

Would I want to know? You betcha.

As far as the son's reputation being rehabilitated, it seems a waste of time to me. If the stories are correct, he was waving an outlandish sum of money around in front of complete strangers. That is a foolish act if one is sober or not.

Did someone toss him over, I don't know. BUt I also wouldn't be blaming one of the ships officers of murder.

grammybears

03-22-2009, 10:10 PM

Since George was overvthe age of 18 and was married even if for just one day I do not believe the parents would be entitled to any kind of settlement. His wife I believe is the one who would be entitled to a settlement.
I also think it is a waste of time to fight to repair their son's reputation. The man is gone, he is not coming back and there is nothing that can be done now that the information about the alcohol and pills has made its way to the public.
As a parent I would want to know what happened to my son, but going this route just does not sound right to me. I also kind of feel like they are trying to punish their daughter in law.

When I was handeling my dads estate when he died I found out that his wife of two months was entitled to half of his estate. It didn't seem right but it is the way things are handled here in Utah.

jmoo but in my mind I think most people are just to sue happy.

FoolsGold

03-23-2009, 09:54 AM

The most the parents get is 75,000, the wife gets the rest.
The parents don't want the money, they want to use the threat of a judgment as leverage against the cruiseline to pry open the records as to what actually happened.

The wife, it seems, would prefer details not emerge as to her conduct.

The reports of waving large sums of money around were, as I recall, not subtantiated. However, the cashier employee would have known the amount of the winnings. They each got drunk. Its obvious they got far more drunk that final night than they normally would have. Its possible there were social pressures and it seems unlikely, but not impossible, that the drinks were spiked.

It would be fairly difficult to be so drunk and to get over that railing and then off that canopy. Not impossible, but difficult.

Firehead

03-25-2009, 07:11 PM

I am a short chit, it would be a little difficult for me to get over the bannister without climbing on a chair. Most balconie stateroom have table and chairs. My hubby however is over 6 feet tall. I would not be difficult for him in the least.

I looked at photos of Brilliance of The Seas and do not see a canopy to which you refer to. Do we know which room they were in?

As far as the wife's reputation, it has been known the she was drunk and passed out somewhere on the ship.

Oh and the ship really doesn't have to roll. A few good gusts of wind would do someone in if they were sitting on the railing. From what I have read there was no blood found in the stateroom, only a drop or two outside. Might this have been caused by him hitting the area on his way down?

FoolsGold

03-25-2009, 07:55 PM

A good deal of what was found in the stateroom depends upon reports from non-neutral observers.

The quantity of blood on the exterior canopy was quite large, thats why it made such an impressive photograph for that young teenage girl who was sensible enough to grab her new digital camera and snap the blood stain before the ships crewmen washed it away.

Its often windy on the vessel and many guests are rather tall and often quite drunk, but few of them fall over the railing no matter how rough the waters are. Exceptional events require exceptional circumstances. This was no 'drunken passenger traipsing along the railing and falling off'.

The vacationing Chief of Detectives two staterooms away provided significant observations of the ships security officers though the timeline was less than definitive.

sarahhod

04-01-2009, 05:35 AM

Sealed records to be released in missing Greenwich honeymooner's case

By Debra Friedman
STAFF WRITER
Posted: 03/31/2009 10:56:28 PM EDT

Nearly 2200 pages of sealed court transcripts, documents and photos in the case of George A. Smith IV, a Greenwich man who vanished while on a honeymoon cruise in 2005, are set to be released to the public within 30 days, officials said.
Greenwich Probate Court Judge David Hopper ruled Tuesday he will release the records of probate court proceedings after the U.S. Department of Justice, which has investigated the case, can review the proposed redactions and suggest its own.
The records include transcripts of testimony from a four-day hearing in May in which the court upheld the $1.1 million settlement of Smith's widow, Jennifer Hagel-Smith, with the Royal Caribbean cruise line, a deal opposed by George Smith's family. The court is also set to release transcripts of Hagel-Smith's April 2007 deposition in the case, according to Greenwich-based attorney Michael Jones, who is representing George Smith's parents.
The May hearing was held after the family contested the settlement, claiming Hagel Smith agreed to less money than their son's potential earning capacity to avoid personal embarassment regarding details about the night Smith disappeared.
The anticipated release of these records will provide details on court proceedings that happened behind closed doors.
Smith went missing on July, 5, 2005, while on a Mediterranean cruise. His body, which left behind bloodstains on an exterior overhang of the ship, was never recovered. The Department
http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=2f5dff3e-1ea0-11de-b5fe-ab5c352085ea&T=19e5psopl%2fX%3d1238578420%2fE%3d2022775704%2fR% 3dnchome%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d8.1%2fW%3d0%2fY%3dPARTNER_U S%2fF%3d3656896711%2fH%3dYWx0c3BpZD0iOTY3MjgzMDAzI iBzZXJ2ZUlkPSIyZjVkZmYzZS0xZWEwLTExZGUtYjVmZS1hYjV jMzUyMDg1ZWEiIHNpdGVJZD0iOTEzMDUxIiB0U3RtcD0iMTIzO DU3ODQyMDU5NzcyMSIgdGFyZ2V0PSJfYmxhbmsiIA--%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dE08D0D4C&U=13us18c68%2fN%3d84NYAEwNj2A-%2fC%3d600034842.600038613.400230556.400230556%2fD %3dLREC%2fB%3d1718977149279931961%2fV%3d2
of Justice and the FBI have both investigated the case and have yet to close the book on the incident. Jones and Hagel-Smith's Middletown-based attorney Elizabeth Byrne each proposed redactions to the records and said they were in agreement about their release Tuesday in Probate Court.
"We all agreed on the redactions and they are very limited," said Byrne.
Jones also used that time to review the material.
"Both sides went through the entire transcript and looked at different parts. It's a very limited set of redactions," said Jones.
Probate Judge David Hopper said he approved all of the redactions, noting that "99.9 percent" of the information will be released.
Greenwich-based attorney Eugene Riccio, who is also representing Smith's family, said he spoke with the U.S. Attorney's Office and it indicated that officials needed more time to review the proposed redactions and possibly suggest their own.
Hopper agreed to give the Department of Justice 30 additional days to review the material before he authorized the release of the records, however he noted it could come sooner.
Hopper said that the records had been sealed due to the worry of "certain issues becoming public and adversely affecting the estate."
A Freedom of Information Request filed by the Greenwich Post asking the court to open the sealed records prompted Hopper to contemplate their release initially, however Hopper said Tuesday he decided to release them because he felt those concerns were no longer an issue.
George Smith's parents, George and Maureen Smith as well as his sister, Bree Smith, were on hand Tuesday, but did not wish to comment on the proceedings. The family has said they believe their son was a victim of foul play.
However, Hagel Smith, who won the rights to her husband's estate, submitted court documents in state Superior Court in Stamford last year suggesting Smith's use of alcohol mixed with prescription drugs may have led to an accident that led to his death.
Hagel Smith released that information in response to a lawsuit in which Smith's parents are challenging the probate court ruling that upheld the settlement between his widow and the cruise line.
Smith's disappearance garnered national attention leading to congressional hearings on cruise passenger safety and spurring the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a new law requiring cruise lines to report shipboard disappearances and other incidents to the federal authorities, who would, in turn, make the information public.
The records will be released by April 30.

http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_12041399

SavannahStar

04-01-2009, 06:15 AM

Those records should make for some interesting reading.

FoolsGold

04-01-2009, 06:32 AM

Those records should make for some interesting reading.Perhaps. Everyone already knows there were serious rifts between the groom's parents and the bride almost right from the start. The bride would tell the parents that the fbi had asked her not to discuss the incident but it was soon obvious to the parents that the bride was not being forthcoming due to a desire to conceal the nature and degree of her behaviors on that final night.

The real "interesting reading" is not the Probate Court records but the ship's records and it is those ship's records that the bride had no desire to open to public scrutiny since the first of the records to be released would surely be the records that concerned the bride's actions.

sarahhod

04-01-2009, 09:42 AM

Lawyers want more time to review Smith transcript (http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24019:lawyers-want-more-time-to-review-smith-transcript&catid=10:greenwich-local&Itemid=1092)

(http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?view=article&catid=10%3Agreenwich-local&id=24019%3Alawyers-want-more-time-to-review-smith-transcript&format=pdf&option=com_content&Itemid=1092)
(http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?view=article&catid=10%3Agreenwich-local&id=24019%3Alawyers-want-more-time-to-review-smith-transcript&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=1092)
(http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_mailto&tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hY29ybi1vbmxpbmUuY29tL2pvb21sY TE1L2luZGV4LnBocD9vcHRpb249Y29tX2NvbnRlbnQmdmlldz1 hcnRpY2xlJmlkPTI0MDE5Omxhd3llcnMtd2FudC1tb3JlLXRpb WUtdG8tcmV2aWV3LXNtaXRoLXRyYW5zY3JpcHQmY2F0aWQ9MTA 6Z3JlZW53aWNoLWxvY2FsJkl0ZW1pZD0xMDky) Written by Kristan Zimmer (editor@greenwich-post.com) Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Greenwich Probate Judge David Hopper delayed the unsealing of the George Smith case Tuesday, after the Department of Justice (DOJ) requested more time to review the court transcript. Gene Riccio, attorney for the Smith family, said Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed asked for 30 more days “to further review any other deletions or redactions from the transcript” the department may consider necessary.
The FBI and the DOJ are continuing to actively investigate the disappearance of Mr. Smith, the town man who went missing from his Royal Caribbean cruise ship during his July 2005 honeymoon.
The Post had asked Judge Hopper to unseal the transcript on the probate appeal of the $1.1-million settlement reached by Mr. Smith’s widow, Jennifer Hagel, with Royal Caribbean International. The settlement had been appealed by Mr. Smith’s parents, George and Maureen. They challenged Ms. Hagel Smith’s out-of-court agreement so they could file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against Royal Caribbean. The Smiths are further appealing Judge Hopper’s upholding of the settlement in Stamford Superior Court.
The probate appeal was closed to the press and public, but on Feb. 2, the Post asked Judge Hopper to unseal the transcript, saying the information it contains “is necessary to cover the highly publicized case fairly and accurately.” The Post cited legal precedents for open court proceedings under the First Amendment and state and federal statutes, and Judge Hopper granted the request.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Hopper said the issue “was a constitutional and common law issue, not a freedom of information issue.” He said the probate hearing was initially closed to serve “the best interests of the estate.”
“But certain things have changed,” he added.
At the February hearing, Judge Hopper said he was concerned about the way “the adminstratrix in the case,” Ms. Hagel, was “cherry picking” information in the transcript to be made public.
Ms. Hagel issued a press release last July alleging that her husband mixed prescription drugs with alcohol the night he vanished nearly four years ago in the Aegean Sea. In the release, she said she was “required to make public this information to defend against the Smith family’s attack on the settlement agreement and her personally.”
On Tuesday, Liz Byrne, an attorney for Ms. Hagel, said she was “entirely satisfied” with Judge Hopper’s decision to unseal the transcript. She also said it was “entirely reasonable” to wait 30 days before the transcript is released to the press while the DOJ finishes its review.
Mike Jones, another Smith family attorney, said the transcript as it stands now will be “99%” intact and unredacted, after discussions by both legal teams. However, the status of the final document will depend on the DOJ review.
Mr. Jones said he has received several media requests for the transcript, from People Magazine, the Associated Press and the National Enquirer.
The next hearing, at which the transcript may finally be released, is set for April 30.

FoolsGold

04-01-2009, 07:07 PM

The FBI and the DOJ are continuing to actively investigate the disappearance of Mr. Smith, the town man who went missing from his Royal Caribbean cruise ship during his July 2005 honeymoon.Yeah, the file is in a stack of "active cases" and every thirty days the FBI wipes the dust off the top of the stack.

sarahhod

04-02-2009, 03:40 PM

LOL Fools Gold. Too Funny :0t31:

Probably true though.

sarahhod

04-07-2009, 06:54 AM

Public to have access to sealed records in case of George Smith, IV

By Anne W. Semmes
Posted: 04/06/2009 02:14:17 PM EDT

Greenwich Probate Court Attorney David Hopper ruled on Tuesday afternoon to release the transcript to the public - 2,200 pages - of a closed four-day probate hearing held last May in which Hopper upheld the $1.1 million settlement by the Royal Caribbean Cruises to Jennifer Hagel-Smith, widow of George Smith IV.
The May hearing came after the George Smith family appealed the settlement as they wished to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son against the Royal Caribbean cruise line. Smith went missing nearly four years ago on his honeymoon cruise somewhere between Greece and Turkey in July of 2005. His body was not found, but there were reports of a struggle and blood stains were found outside his cabin. His disappearance is still under investigation.
In January, Hopper acted on a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request filed by a former Greenwich Citizen reporter, Joan Lownds for the Greenwich Post, for unsealing the records of the court hearing. Lawyers for the George Smith and Hagel-Smith parties then made their redactions.
With all parties gathered in Hopper's office in Town Hall, Hopper explained he had found no issue with the redactions made. His reasons for sealing the records, he said, were "to protect http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=6f49529e-2362-11de-9871-83dcc0599c24&T=19gr8tbi5%2fX%3d1239101654%2fE%3d2022775853%2fR% 3dncnwsloc%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d8.1%2fW%3d0%2fY%3dPARTNER _US%2fF%3d3532994948%2fH%3dYWx0c3BpZD0iOTY3MjgzMTU 0IiBzZXJ2ZUlkPSI2ZjQ5NTI5ZS0yMzYyLTExZGUtOTg3MS04M 2RjYzA1OTljMjQiIHNpdGVJZD0iMTAyNDA1MSIgdFN0bXA9IjE yMzkxMDE2NTQ4NTMyMjQiIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiA-%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dE98D0D4C&U=128og4fbj%2fN%3dtaLcAUwNj6A-%2fC%3d-1%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d-1%2fV%3d0the estate. "It's not a FOI issue," he said. "It's a constitutional law issue. It's what is in the best interest of the estate."
"For the most part," Hopper added, "99.9 percent (of the transcript) is being released."
But Greenwich attorney Eugene Riccio, representing the Smiths, said a request has been made from the U.S. Attorney's office at the Department of Justice to also review the transcript for possible redactions.
"Their request will most likely be for most of the same things we have asked for," said attending Greenwich attorney Michael Jones, who is also representing the Smiths. Jones said that included with the 2,200 pages of transcript were 300 photos.
Attorney Elizabeth Bryne of Middletown, who is representing Hagel-Smith and who was accompanied by assisting attorney Richard Sheeler, said afterward, "It is entirely appropriate to allow the Department of Justice to have a few more days to look at it. It's exactly what our client wants." She, too, cited the "limited number of redactions" made.
All parties expressed accord on the need of the public to have access of the May transcript. "Both sides have an interest in making it public," said Jones, adding that there would be much of interest to the public in the 2,200 pages.
He also revealed the release included the two-day transcript of Hagel-Smith's April 2007 deposition in the case. Hopper gave the Justice Department 30 days - until April 30 - for its review of the transcript, but he was willing to arrange an earlier release if their review was completed sooner.
Present at the hearing were Smith's parents, George III and Maureen Smith and their daughter, Bree Smith, who have been advised by their attorneys not to make public comment until the transcripts are unsealed.
Hagel-Smith was not present. From various parties it was learned she has dropped "Smith" from her name in the probate court proceedings.

http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/localnews/ci_12083126

FoolsGold

04-08-2009, 06:59 PM

There are serious issues here for treatment by more responsible journalists:
Litigation problems for vacationers.
Cruiseline destruction of evidence and stone-walling of family members and authorities.
Jurisdiction issues, particularly the lack of a forensics team being available in some foreign port where the locals don't really care about a death on the high seas on a foreign flagged vessel.
The effect of cruise-line generated income on local police activity.

sarahhod

05-11-2009, 06:34 AM

FBI deciding which portions of Smith documents to seal

By Debra Friedman
STAFF WRITER
Posted: 05/01/2009 08:10:58 AM EDT

The release of court records concerning George A. Smith IV, a Greenwich man who vanished while on his honeymoon cruise in 2005, has been delayed as the FBI determines which portions to seal from the public.
"We are hoping for them to be released in a week to 10 days," said attorney Michael Jones, who represents the Smith family. "The FBI has been very carefully reviewing this matter. They are still working on the proposed redactions."
During an April hearing, lawyers and Greenwich probate court Judge David Hopper agreed they would allow the federal agencies investigating the case time to make redactions.
Nearly 2,200 pages of sealed court transcripts, documents and photos that stemmed from a probate court battle over Smith's estate were set to be released Thursday after lawyers for the Smiths and Smith's widow completed their own set of redactions.
The records, which have been sealed since 2007, include transcripts of testimony from a four-day hearing in May in which the probate court upheld a $1.1 million settlement from Royal Caribbean cruises to Smith's wife, Jennifer Hagel-Smith. George Smith's family had opposed the settlement and that case is pending in civil court.
Smith went missing July 5, 2005. His body was never recovered.

http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_12267287?source=most_emailed

sarahhod

05-11-2009, 06:37 AM

Sunday, May 3, 2009

FBI Proposed Redactions (http://nasga-stopguardianabuse.blogspot.com/2009/05/fbi-proposed-redactions.html)

The release of court records concerning George A. Smith IV, a Greenwich man who vanished while on his honeymoon cruise in 2005, has been delayed as the FBI determines which portions to seal from the public.

attorney Michael Jones, who represents the Smith family: "We are hoping for them to be released in a week to 10 days. The FBI has been very carefully reviewing this matter. They are still working on the proposed redactions."

During an April hearing, lawyers and Greenwich probate court Judge David Hopper agreed they would allow the federal agencies investigating the case time to make redactions.

Nearly 2,200 pages of sealed court transcripts, documents and photos that stemmed from a probate court battle over Smith's estate were set to be released after lawyers for the Smiths and Smith's widow completed their own set of redactions.

The records, which have been sealed since 2007, include transcripts of testimony from a four-day hearing in May in which the probate court upheld a $1.1 million settlement from Royal Caribbean cruises to Smith's wife, Jennifer Hagel-Smith. George Smith's family had opposed the settlement and that case is pending in civil court.

Smith went missing July 5, 2005. His body was never recovered.

Source:
FBI deciding which portions of Smith documents to seal (http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_12267287?source=most_emailed)

More information:
Royal Caribbean Honeymoon Tragedy By Jennifer Hagel Smith (http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/LatestMemberStories/George_Allen_Smith_IV_Spouse_Story.html)

George Smith was on a Mediterranean honeymoon cruise when he vanished overnight. The only trace, a splattered pool of blood. As concern rises over the number of people who go missing from ocean liners, Elizabeth Day investigates Murder on the high seas? (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8942984.html)

sarahhod

05-11-2009, 06:37 AM

Files should be released anyday now then.

LiveLaughLuv

05-11-2009, 09:59 AM

Nearly 2,200 pages of sealed court transcripts, documents and photos that stemmed from a probate court battle over Smith's estate were set to be released after lawyers for the Smiths and Smith's widow completed their own set of redactions.

The records, which have been sealed since 2007, include transcripts of testimony from a four-day hearing in May in which the probate court upheld a $1.1 million settlement from Royal Caribbean cruises to Smith's wife, Jennifer Hagel-Smith. George Smith's family had opposed the settlement and that case is pending in civil court.

Very curious about these court documents...can't wait to read them..

I wasn't aware George Smith's family took his new wife, Jennifer to court about the money won from Royal Caribbean...I wonder if they think she is the one responsible for their son's death or why would they oppose the settlement to her...she was his wife...who happened to become a newlywedded widow...(try saying that three times, LOL)

sarahhod

05-11-2009, 10:10 AM

Very curious about these court documents...can't wait to read them..

I wasn't aware George Smith's family took his new wife, Jennifer to court about the money won from Royal Caribbean...I wonder if they think she is the one responsible for their son's death or why would they oppose the settlement to her...she was his wife...who happened to become a newlywedded widow...(try saying that three times, LOL)

I believe this is the reason LLL.

The May hearing was held after the family contested the settlement, claiming Hagel Smith agreed to less money than their son's potential earning capacity to avoid personal embarassment regarding details about the night Smith disappeared.
Hope that helps.

FoolsGold

05-13-2009, 07:39 AM

The settlement offer may indeed have been agreed to so that the wife would not be exposed to unfavorable publcity regarding her activities without her husband, however, the court only looks to the AMOUNT of the settlement and considers its REASONABLENESS.

Since the court ruled that the expense of trial, the unfavorable forum, the expense of appeal, etc. made the final result of any litigation difficult to determine, the court had to rule that the settlement amount was not necessarily an unreasonable amount.

sarahhod

05-23-2009, 04:58 PM

FBI approves Smith records for release

By Debra Friedman
staff writer
Posted: 05/22/2009 10:32:01 PM EDT

After a lengthy review by federal officials, thousands of pages of court transcripts and evidence are set for release in the case of a Greenwich man who vanished while on his honeymoon cruise in 2005.
Attorneys for the family of George A. Smith IV and his widow Jennifer Hagel-Smith met in Greenwich Probate Court Friday morning for a status conference, where they confirmed the records will be distributed to the press sometime next week.
"About 98 percent of the transcripts and evidence will be released on a disc form," said Probate Court Judge David Hopper.
The records have gone through a long process of review with attorneys from both sides proposing redactions. Redactions have also been made by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, which currently have an open investigation into Smith's disappearance.
The records are expected to shine new light on a case long shrouded in mystery.
Smith went missing July 5, 2005, while on a Mediterranean cruise with Hagel-Smith. His body, which left behind bloodstains on an exterior overhang of the ship, was never recovered.
The records set for release will include transcripts of testimony from a four-day hearing in May in which the Probate Court upheld a settlement with the Royal Caribbean cruise line that awarded $1.1 million to Smith's widow. The deal was opposed by George Smith's family. The court is also set to release transcripts of Hagel-Smith's April 2007 deposition in the case.
All of the information had been sealed until the Greenwich Post filed a Freedom of Information Act request. Greenwich attorney Michael Jones, who represents Smith's family, on Friday said much of the review had to do with the fact that the investigation is still pending.
"This is still an active and ongoing investigation," said Jones. "I think that this is going to provide some information that hasn't previously been presented."
Hagel-Smith's Middletown attorney Elizabeth Byrne thanked the Probate Court for allowing time to review the 2,200 pages of material, noting that some of the redactions were of people's names who are part of the investigation.
"The public has a right to know, but some of the names should not be released," said Byrne. "The Department of Justice wants to make sure there is no interference with their investigation."
The Smith family has an appeal pending in state Superior Court in Stamford contesting the ruling that upheld Hagel-Smith's settlement with the cruise line.

http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_12433401?source=most_emailed

sarahhod

06-12-2009, 10:06 AM

Men aren’t the only honeymoon killers. Though no charges have ever been filed against her, Jennifer Hagel Smith (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8942984.html) stands smack in the middle of the investigation over the disappearance and alleged murder of her husband, George in 2005. During their honeymoon on a cruise ship, after a night of drinking, Mrs. Smith's husband vanished. But vanished to where? They were at sea miles from land. His body has never been found. The sea is keeping its secrets.
The Smiths were heard arguing loudly and, some say, drunkenly, hours before Mr. Smith went missing. The next morning blood stains and a bloody print were all that were found outside their cabin balcony. Did he drunkenly fall over the balcony? Hardly, the railings are pretty high. Was he pushed over the railing by someone in the room? Possibly. And just where was his bride? She claims she was "sleeping it off" in a shipboard hallway far from their cabin.
Recently, Mrs. Smith settled for $1.1 million dollars, "quickly and cheaply" according to the lawyer for the missing man's parents and sister, "to avoid further scrutiny of her own risque behavior." That behavior may have had something to do with the two men who were seen partying with her at a ship's bar and who allegedly later went to the Smiths' cabin. It seems no one will ever really know. The sea isn't the only one keeping secrets.

http://www.examiner.com/x-538-Relationship-Examiner~y2009m6d12-Everythings-Personal-Nothings-Sacred--Deadly-honeymoons

FoolsGold

06-17-2009, 08:14 AM

I think it should be remembered that the groom's parents owned a large winemerchant business located in Connecticut and in Cyberspace. The bride had only to return home with hubby and wait a few more months, then the business would have been transferred to him. The bride was aware that in a few months he would inherit a multi-million dollar business.
No woman ever gets so drunk that she forgets that many many millions!!

FoolsGold

07-06-2009, 04:43 AM

annalyzer

07-06-2009, 07:05 AM

Oh No.
I wonder why the hartford courant mentioned so prominently the fact that the victim had hugged and kissed the man who had helped him to bed after he had been drinking so heavily. Does this indicate the courant has a new theory to the case? Why would a newspaper lead off with this?

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-greenwich-cruise-documents,0,3987899.story

Don't know about anyone else but to me it just shows how sloppy drunk the man was/could get. I don't read anything sexual into it.

But this explains why it was in the article ~

"The idea that our lives were becoming open books was very disturbing to me. Literally anything and everything that people could think of or dream of was being put out there. And not only that, it is out there forever. I will be Googled for the rest of my life." Jennifer Hagel Smith on one reason why she settled the case with the cruise line.

"[Jennifer] settled 'quickly' and 'cheaply' to avoid further scrutiny and embarrassment. Jennifer admitted that she is acutely aware of and sensitive to further critical scrutiny of her own shipboard conduct and behavior if the wrongful death litigation against Royal Caribbean proceeds." Statement from lawyer for Maureen Smith's family

FoolsGold

07-06-2009, 04:47 PM

The net effect of all this is that the cruise line gets off with paying peanuts and is not held accountable in any way. The bride gets to resume her life, perhaps under an assumed name if she really fears the spotlight.

FoolsGold

07-20-2009, 07:30 PM

I thought once the CD was released with the documents on it that someone would be doing an analysis of what is known about the event or were the only documents released the probate file unrelated to the shipboard events?

Jute

08-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Widow in Cruise Case Plans to Remarry

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Aug. 3) - A Connecticut woman whose husband disappeared from their honeymoon cruise in 2005 plans to remarry.
John Hagel says his 29-year-old daughter, Jennifer Hagel Smith, plans to marry financial analyst Jeff Agne in the fall.

"We couldn't be happier," John Hagel said Monday. "We're just thrilled she's been able to move on with her life and start a new life with Jeff. We couldn't be prouder for both of them."
George Allen Smith IV of Greenwich was aboard a Royal Caribbean ship when he vanished somewhere between Greece and Turkey after a night of heavy drinking. His body never has been found.
The cruise line said his wife was found passed out on a floor far from their cabin.
The FBI has investigated Smith's disappearance, but no one has been charged.
His family, however, insists he was murdered. They are challenging a nearly $1.1 million settlement Hagel Smith reached with Royal Caribbean. The deal was approved by a probate court, but Smith's family appealed to Stamford Superior Court.
Contacted by the New York Post, George Smith's father said he had heard that his daughter-in-law was engaged. "I don't know if it's true," said George Allen Smith III.
"I'm sorry, my lawyer told me not to [comment]," he added.

(Photo caption) In 2005, George Allen Smith IV, of Greenwich, Conn., vanished from a Mediterranean cruise while honeymooning with his wife, Jennifer Hagel Smith. Bloodstains were found inside and outside his ninth-deck cabin. The FBI investigated but no charges were filed. Now, his widow plans to remarry. (There are 16 photos at the link.)

http://news.aol.com/article/cruise-case-widow-jennifer-hagel-smith/600403?icid=main|compaq-laptop|dl1|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Fartic le%2Fcruise-case-widow-jennifer-hagel-smith%2F600403

FoolsGold

08-28-2009, 10:48 PM

Just saw a brief segment on that voyage.
I don't begrudge her for wanting to get on with the rest of her life.
I think the settlement was low and motivated largely by a desire for certain matters to not be aired publicly, but the probabe court ruled, quite correctly, that given the uncertainties and costs involved in protracted litigation the settlement was reasonable.

It results in the ship cranking out some press releases and continuing to do business as usual. There is no information available as to her activiities or whereabouts. The mystery remains unsolved as to what happened to the man and when, but above alll,,, by whom!

Bodies don't roll overboard from those balconies. Those cruise ships are stable.

One sole voice muttering to himself drunkenly and perhaps opening and closing cabinet drawers looking for aspirin or more booze?
One sole voice wandering around the cabin muttering to himself and looking for something such as money or valuables that might have been there?

Sure its interesting to speculate as to how he felt about his wife going off with the casino cashier, just as we all wonder if she even knows what happened to her that night or who it was doing it, but the main question is who killed the husband.

Did the casino cashier act proactively to protect his job from vocal complaints by the husband that the cashier felt were likely to be made the next morning? Did the cashier act proactively to defend against any attack by the husband who upon sobering up was quite likely to recall his wife had used her knee on him and gone off with another man for a period of time that was simply too long?

The loud boistrous "Russians"? Hah! How would they know where the external ladder controls were located or how to obtain the key to activate those controls? Only a crew member would know about the external ladder that gave him access to the canopy where the body had come to rest.

FoolsGold

08-30-2009, 09:58 AM

SavannahStar

08-30-2009, 10:37 AM

So how many were unimpressed with that retired sheriff administrator that was in a nearby cabin?
The witnesses all heard the same noises at the same time but had such different interpretations of them.

I watched the show. I dunno what to think, frankly. It's such a confusing case.

One thing I want to know is, how was the wife found "passed out" in the hallway, taken back to her room IN A WHEELCHAIR, at what time was that....and at what time was her appt. in the spa, where she was found later in the a.m.? What did she say went through her mind, in the time in between? Did she sleep? What did she think about her husband not being there, and being gone when she went for her spa appt?

So many unanswered questions. Though I will admit I haven't keep up with this case in great detail.

FoolsGold

08-30-2009, 07:40 PM

What did she think about her husband not being there, and being gone when she went for her spa appt? She was relatively well plastered but I'm sure she was glad her husband was not there... after alll, witnesses did report that she had forcefully kneed her husband in the groin and gone off with her new-found friend, the Casino Employee. She was officially found on the side of the ship directly opposite to his cabin which to me means that he dumped her where it would seem that she had wandered drunkenly rather than having just left his bed. The details of where she was and what the cameras reveal are things that she probably does not want to see the light of day or the light of litigation. That is why she has settled with the cruise line.

I don't know what spa services she was receiving but they might have helped her sober up and thats probably what she needed to do.

SavannahStar

08-30-2009, 08:39 PM

She was relatively well plastered but I'm sure she was glad her husband was not there... after alll, witnesses did report that she had forcefully kneed her husband in the groin and gone off with her new-found friend, the Casino Employee. She was officially found on the side of the ship directly opposite to his cabin which to me means that he dumped her where it would seem that she had wandered drunkenly rather than having just left his bed. The details of where she was and what the cameras reveal are things that she probably does not want to see the light of day or the light of litigation. That is why she has settled with the cruise line.

I don't know what spa services she was receiving but they might have helped her sober up and thats probably what she needed to do.

Thanks for your reply.

It's still such a confusing case to me. For all intents and purposes, many friends of hers have said what a great girl she was and how very much in love. I cannot even imagine being on a honeymoon cruise and losing my new husband overboard like that. Was she ever hysterical? I can't imagine NOT being hysterical. Was this all hush-hush way back then? What do we know about her initial reaction to him being missing? I want to have sympathy for her, but then too they BOTH seemed like real party animals. That's not to say they weren't greatly in love with each other, though. Bottom line, I just don't have a real opinion of either of them except they were both smashed, totally. Apparently she was a real flirt. But did the alcohol abuse aggravate that? I just don't know......don't know what either of them were used to drinking, their tolerance. I feel a great deal of heartache for both families.

Firehead

08-31-2009, 10:56 AM