A Florida attorney is now under arrest for assaulting an older passenger on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Phillip Ortiz, 38, a married dad of two, is accused of striking a 67‑year‑old man on the Norwegian Cruise Line Encore after the elder passenger warned him that a certain hallway was off‑limits to non‑passengers at the time.
According to NBC Miami, Ortiz retorted “Who the f—k are you to tell me what I can and can’t do,” before pushing the man.
Witnesses and the victim’s partners pushed Ortiz back, sparking a scuffle. At one point Ortiz tripped the passenger, who fell hard on his head, which left him unconscious.
He was later left without a pulse, so onlookers performed CPR until ship nurses and security arrived. The victim eventually regained consciousness and was transported to the University of Miami Hospital.
Security footage corroborated the timeline given by the victim and bystanders. Ortiz was booked on Saturday and charged with aggravated battery against a person 65 or older.
He entered a not‑guilty plea on Sunday, and his lawyer, Stephan Lopez, shifted blame onto the victim, who Lopez claims was intoxicated and preventing the couple from accessing their children. Lopez told People magazine: “The so‑called elderly person is bigger [and] stronger than my client.”
He also criticized the elder passenger for “being already drunk prior to the ship departing, instigating and initiating the aggression … assaulting my client’s wife and preventing access to their children 6 and 14 by, without authority, closing a door behind them and preventing access.” Ortiz was released on bond Monday and ordered to keep his distance from the victim.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
