Marcela Holman, an Arizona resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit on behalf of her 8-year-old son, identified as John Doe, against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:25-cv-23619-DSL, alleges that the child was seriously injured in a preventable waterslide collision aboard the Independence of the Seas on November 10, 2024.
According to the lawsuit, the minor plaintiff was using a waterslide onboard the Independence of the Seas when he was violently struck by another child who was allowed to enter the slide before he had safely exited. The impact knocked the 8-year-old into the corner of the slide’s base pool and completely dislodged both of his front teeth.
The complaint alleges that Royal Caribbean’s staff failed to properly monitor the waterslide and allowed multiple children to enter in close succession, despite knowing that children must safely exit before the next rider is permitted to slide. As a result, the lawsuit claims, the minor plaintiff sustained serious dental injuries, emotional trauma, and long-term medical consequences.
The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of care by failing to supervise the waterslide appropriately and by not ensuring that the pool at the base of the slide was clear before allowing another child to enter. The complaint emphasizes that the cruise line’s crew should have monitored usage to prevent collisions and that this failure directly caused the child’s injuries.
The plaintiff also alleges that Royal Caribbean failed to warn the child or his guardians of the danger posed by allowing another child to descend the slide prematurely. The minor plaintiff had acted with reasonable care for his own safety, following the typical sliding procedure, but was not made aware of the hazard posed by another incoming rider.
In addition to the failure to monitor and supervise, the lawsuit includes a count for negligent failure to warn. The complaint suggests that the cruise line could have used visual or verbal warnings to alert children and their parents of proper slide procedures or even installed mirrors at the base of the slide to improve visibility and help prevent collisions.
Instead, no safety warnings or protocols were in place to stop the second child from sliding while the plaintiff remained at the exit area of the slide.
The impact of the collision caused the child to lose both of his front teeth, which were replaced with temporary prosthetics. Because of his age, full dental reconstruction cannot be completed until his jaw stops growing, meaning he will require additional surgery in the future.
The complaint alleges the child has suffered and will continue to suffer physical pain, emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement. Damages sought include past and future medical expenses, as well as compensation for the loss of the cruise experience. A jury trial has been requested.
Cruise lines have a duty to supervise waterslides, pools, and other recreational areas to ensure the safety of children and other passengers. Injuries caused by poor monitoring or lack of warning may be grounds for a personal injury claim under maritime law. If your child was injured while using a cruise ship waterslide or similar attraction, speak with our experienced maritime injury attorneys today.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcomed are not predicting any outcome.