Thursday, June 29, 2006; Posted: 03:45 PM

(RTTNews) - Cruise company Celebrity Cruises (RCL | charts | news | PowerRating) on Thursday said a federal court jury in New York awarded it $193 million in a lawsuit against Essef Corp for damages originating from the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease on Celebrity's vessel Horizon in 1994. The Miami, Florida-based company has remaining claims for interest and certain legal fees, though it had asked for out-of-pocket losses, lost profits, and loss of business enterprise value related to this incident.

Legionnaires' disease is a bacterial disease commonly associated with water-based aerosols that have originated from warm water sources. It is often associated with poorly maintained cooling towers and potable water systems. Between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of Legionnaires' disease are reported in the U.S. each year.

The verdict is subject to appeal and any gain would be recognized only when the outcome is known with certainty, the company noted. Commenting on the verdict, Dan Hanrahan, President of Celebrity Cruises, said: "This was a long awaited result for Celebrity Cruises. We feel vindicated by this verdict. In the cruise industry, the safety of our guests and employees is paramount."

RCL currently trades at $38.30, up $0.70 or 1.86% from the previous close, on 586,700 shares. 
 

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