RELEASE TO MEDIA
DATE: JULY, 2015
RE: A TIME TO REMEMBER ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF DISAPPEARANCE OF GEORGE ALLEN SMITH, IV
AFTER TEN YEARS OF INQUIRIES, A FINAL PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM WIDOW, JENNIFER HAGEL:
“One day can change everything. They say tough times don't last, tough people do. I never would have lasted without the strength and courage my family and friends bestowed upon me when I needed it most. It was the unconditional love of family and friends that allowed me to overcome the extraordinarily painful loss of George, heal the massive heartbreak, and rise above the horrific media frenzy that somehow always managed to get it wrong. The support of family and friends and my faith helped me to withstand the relentless bullying and misplaced anger of those looking to place blame.
And although I was often quiet in the face of unfair or uninformed reports and my family chose to stay out of the fray, that didn't mean we weren’t committed to obtaining answers or we weren't grieving our loss – just the opposite is true.
Almost 10 years have passed, and I am truly blessed to be a wife and mother of two beautiful children. I am so grateful for these blessings, which have helped me learn how live fully in the present moment. I hope to teach my children how to be strong, dignified, and graceful in the face of adversity. We live a simple and quiet life, give back to our community, we're involved in local charities and we remain eternally grateful for the wonderful friends and family by our side. I think George would be very proud of the life I have been able to build, because it's the kind of life he and I always dreamed of having, and what I would want for him if he were here today.
My family and I would also like to thank the Connecticut FBI for all of their hard work and dedication to
George’s case. It has been a very long ten years for everyone involved and bringing some type of closure to the families has always been the FBI’s main priority. The FBI has always treated us with great kindness and respect, and there were times when they felt like family, especially in the beginning when this tragedy was so raw and painful. “

RELEASE TO MEDIA
DATE: JULY, 2015
RE: A TIME TO REMEMBER ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF DISAPPEARANCE OF GEORGE ALLEN SMITH, IV
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (FROM FARRELL, GEENTY, SHEELEY, BOCCALATTE & GUARINO, P.C.):
Sunday, July 5, 2015, marks the tenth anniversary of the death of George Allen Smith, IV, who inexplicably disappeared from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Brilliance of the Seas, between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on July 5 th , 2005. Later that morning, bloodstains were found on a lifeboat canopy several decks below Smith’s cabin balcony, and officials determined that Smith was lost at sea.
Smith and his wife, Jennifer Hagel Smith, had been celebrating their honeymoon with a twelve-day cruise of the Mediterranean Sea.
Months later, the widow, Jennifer Hagel Smith, was appointed as Administrator of her husband’s estate by the Greenwich, Connecticut Probate Court, and, as such, worked closely with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and separately retained Dr. Henry Lee and other investigators, to investigate the circumstances of Mr. Smith’s disappearance from the ship.
Following that investigation, and after seeking recommendations from maritime law experts,
Ms. Hagel Smith reached a settlement with Royal Caribbean on behalf of the Smith estate. The settlement called for Royal Caribbean to pay approximately $1 million to the estate to be shared by
George Smith’s widow and his parents. The settlement also required Royal Caribbean to provide an array of photographs, videos, cabin entry, and other information to the estate, which was critical to and urgently required for the continuing investigation into Smith’s disappearance. The settlement took into consideration maritime law, the Athens Convention, Death on the High Seas Act, which apply to loss of life at sea and sharply limit recovery for wrongful death. The settlement also considered Florida and
Connecticut laws and costly litigation discovery rules that could have required depositions of cruise staff and passengers around the world. Finally, the settlement was also shaped by the possible negligence of
Smith himself, who, while on board the ship, it was later reported, had mixed alcohol and prescription drugs against medical advice.
Ms. Hagel Smith, through her attorneys, Douglas Brown and Elizabeth Byrne, requested the
Greenwich Probate Court to accept the settlement as fair and reasonable under the circumstances, especially as the settlement proceeds would be shared with the Smith family and address the already substantial attorneys’ fees incurred by all. Mr. Smith’s parents objected to the settlement amount as inadequate, and asked the Court to remove Ms. Hagel Smith as Administrator of their son’s estate.
After weeks of testimony in the Greenwich Probate Court, Hon. David W. Hopper approved the settlement agreement on May 2, 2008, finding it to be reasonable and in the best interests of the estate, and determined that Ms. Hagel Smith had acted prudently, in good faith and free from influence in analyzing and accepting the settlement terms on behalf of the estate.
Additional litigation ensued thereafter when Mr. Smith’s parents appealed the Court’s decision to the Stamford/Norwalk Superior Court, which appeal was concluded by the voluntary settlement and withdrawal of the appeal by all concerned parties – Jennifer Hagel Smith, the Smith family and Royal
Caribbean – all of whom incurred substantial legal and other costs over the course of the investigation and litigation surrounding George’s disappearance. The terms of the settlement with Royal Caribbean

were enhanced through the efforts of counsel for Ms. Hagel Smith, Attorney Richard Sheeley, and counsel for the Smith family, Attorney Michael Jones.
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For further information:
Contact Attorney Richard Sheeley at (860) 344-1767 or rsheeley@fgsb-law.com