A 38-year-old attorney from Miami Lakes, identified as Phillip Andrew Ortiz, stands charged following a violent altercation aboard the Norwegian Encore cruise ship on November 22, 2025. The confrontation began when a 67-year-old man reportedly told Ortiz that a hallway was off-limits.
According to the arrest report, Ortiz responded by pushing the older passenger and later forced his way into the restricted corridor — even after the man tried to close the door. The encounter escalated into a physical struggle during which the victim was tripped, struck his head, and was rendered unconscious under Ortiz’s full body weight.
Passengers and onboard medical staff administered CPR; the man was later revived and transported to the hospital for treatment. Surveillance video and multiple witness accounts reportedly corroborate the victim’s version of events.
Ortiz was arrested the same day and initially charged with aggravated battery on a person over 65. In court, the charge was reduced to battery on a person 65 or older. He pleaded not guilty. His attorney claims the older man was intoxicated, aggressive, and had blocked access to rooms housing Ortiz’s minor children.
The case remains under active review, with investigators and cruise-line officials examining evidence — including video surveillance — as the dispute moves through the legal process.