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Florida Passenger Wins $344K Judgment Against Carnival After Tripping on Loose Doorway Threshold on Carnival Celebration
Vivian Ruiz Rondon, a Miami resident, has prevailed in her maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:24-cv-20228, stemmed from a serious trip and fall incident aboard the Carnival Celebration on May 12, 2023. A federal judge awarded Rondon $344,051.24 in damages after concluding that Carnival was liable under four separate theories of negligence, including negligent maintenance and design.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Severe Shoulder Injuries After Tripping on Deck 12 Doorway Threshold
According to the complaint, Rondon was walking on Deck 12 of the Carnival Celebration when her right sandal became caught in a large gap between the carpet and a loose metal threshold at a fire doorway. Despite watching where she was walking, she fell forward and suffered significant injuries. These included a fractured right arm, dislocated right shoulder, and multiple tears in her rotator cuff. Rondon also alleged head and knee injuries, though the court later found she failed to prove those specific injuries were caused by the fall.
Rondon claimed that the metal threshold was not properly secured, and that the condition was made worse by a lack of signage, crew supervision, or visual warnings. The complaint emphasized that Carnival crew members walk through the passenger hallways daily and could have easily discovered the dangerous condition prior to the incident.
Court Finds Carnival Liable for Failing to Maintain, Warn, Train, and Design Safe Ship Conditions
The court ruled in Rondon’s favor on all four counts alleged in the complaint:
- Negligent Maintenance: Carnival failed to inspect and secure the fire doorway threshold despite knowing ship vibrations often loosen screws and bolts.
- Negligent Failure to Warn: Carnival did not warn passengers of the trip hazard, either visually or verbally, in violation of its own safety protocols.
- Negligent Training: The cruise line inadequately trained its crew to recognize and address hazardous doorway conditions.
- Negligent Design and Construction: Carnival approved and continued to use thresholds and materials that it knew or should have known were dangerous, opting not to redesign or replace them despite similar incidents fleet-wide.
The court found Carnival had constructive notice of the hazardous condition meaning it should have known about the risk through regular inspections and prior incidents. However, it ruled against Rondon on her actual notice claims, determining there was no evidence that Carnival specifically knew about that particular loose threshold before her fall.
Judge Awards Over $340,000 in Damages for Permanent Shoulder Injuries and Loss of Enjoyment of Life
U.S. District Judge issued the final judgment on September 8, 2025, awarding Rondon a total of $344,051.24 in damages. The breakdown includes:
- $29,051.24 in past economic damages (such as medical expenses)
- $200,000 in past non-economic damages (pain, suffering, mental anguish)
- $115,000 in future non-economic damages (ongoing disability and reduced quality of life)
The court found that Rondon’s injuries were permanent and significantly impacted her daily activities. It denied recovery for unproven injuries and psychological or household damages. The judgment also provided for post-judgment interest but no attorneys’ fees, per the parties’ stipulation.
Cruise Lines Have a Legal Duty to Maintain Safe Conditions for Passengers at All Times
This case highlights the importance of holding cruise lines accountable when they fail to ensure passenger safety. Maritime law requires cruise companies like Carnival to inspect and maintain all parts of the ship that passengers access. That includes common areas such as hallways, thresholds, and doorways. When cruise lines fail to properly maintain, warn, or train staff to prevent foreseeable hazards, injured passengers may be entitled to compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a trip and fall accident aboard a cruise ship due to a dangerous condition such as an unsecured threshold or poorly designed walkway, you may have the right to pursue a maritime injury claim.
Contact us now to speak with a Florida cruise injury attorney and learn more about your legal options.
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 and rulings 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 outcome.