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Nevada Man Sues Celebrity Cruises After Elevator Doors Slam Shut on His Shoulder Aboard Celebrity Eclipse
Scott Bauer, a Nevada resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises Inc. in the Southern District of Florida. Filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24439-DPG, the complaint alleges that Bauer sustained serious injuries, including a torn rotator cuff, when elevator doors aboard the Celebrity Eclipse forcefully closed on his right shoulder without warning on January 13, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured by Unexpected Elevator Door Malfunction on Celebrity Eclipse
According to the complaint, Bauer was a fare-paying passenger aboard the Celebrity Eclipse when he attempted to enter an elevator and the doors allegedly closed violently and without warning, slamming into his shoulder. The force of the impact caused severe injuries that required ongoing medical treatment, including for a torn rotator cuff.
The lawsuit contends that the hazardous condition of the elevator was not open or obvious and that Bauer had no reason to anticipate the danger. The plaintiff asserts that Celebrity failed to provide any warning about potential malfunctions, despite the elevator’s location in a highly trafficked passenger area.
Celebrity Cruises Accused of Failing to Warn About Known Elevator Hazards on Eclipse
Bauer alleges that Celebrity had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition of the elevator. The lawsuit references several previous incidents across Celebrity’s fleet in which passengers were similarly injured by elevator doors closing prematurely or with excessive force. These include Sanders v. Celebrity Cruises involving the Celebrity Infinity, and Buckley v. Royal Caribbean Cruises concerning a similar incident aboard the Liberty of the Seas. The complaint also references Stephens v. Royal Caribbean, which involved elevator injuries aboard the Wonder of the Seas.
The complaint further asserts that Celebrity failed to comply with industry safety standards such as ASME A17.1, which governs elevator operation, maintenance, and passenger safety. According to Bauer, the cruise line failed to warn guests that the elevator sensors were either non-functional or improperly maintained, and that the vessel lacked adequate inspection policies for such safety systems.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance and Unsafe Elevator Operation on Celebrity Eclipse
Bauer brings three counts of negligence against Celebrity Cruises:
- Negligent failure to warn – for not alerting passengers to the elevator’s malfunction or history of unsafe closures.
- Negligent failure to maintain – for not regularly inspecting, calibrating, or repairing elevator sensors and closing mechanisms.
- General negligence – for failing to provide a reasonably safe elevator system and for not preventing guest access to a potentially dangerous elevator.
The complaint alleges that the cruise line did not employ trained personnel to maintain the elevator and failed to engage outside professionals for calibration or inspection. Additionally, Bauer argues that the elevator lacked basic safety mechanisms, including functioning motion sensors to detect obstructions during door closure.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Serious Shoulder Injury and Loss of Cruise Value Due to Cruise Line Negligence
As a direct result of the elevator incident, Bauer claims he suffered permanent injuries to his shoulder and body, physical pain, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. The injury has reportedly led to a reduction in his ability to work, loss of wages, and long-term disability. He is also seeking damages for medical expenses and the lost benefit of his cruise vacation.
The complaint states that the injuries are continuing and that Celebrity’s failure to maintain a safe vessel and properly warn passengers caused preventable harm. Bauer is demanding a jury trial and seeks full compensatory damages under general maritime law.
Contact a Cruise Ship Elevator Injury Attorney If You Were Hurt Due to Malfunctioning Equipment at Sea
Elevator accidents aboard cruise ships are rare but can result in serious injury when safety standards are ignored or systems are poorly maintained. Cruise lines like Celebrity have a legal duty to inspect, maintain, and ensure the proper function of onboard equipment, especially elevators used frequently by passengers. If you or someone you know suffered an injury due to a cruise ship elevator malfunction or other onboard mechanical failure, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law.
Reach out to our experienced legal team to learn more about your rights after a cruise ship injury.
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 outcome.