William Martinez, a 74-year-old resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 0:25-cv-61655-MD, alleges that Martinez suffered serious injuries, including fractured ribs and spinal damage, after slipping on an unreasonably wet and slippery deck surface near the water slide area on the MSC Seascape.
According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred on June 23, 2024, at approximately 11:00 a.m. while Martinez was walking on Deck 19 of the MSC Seascape, en route to the restroom. The area, located near a water slide attraction, was allegedly saturated with water that had not been cleaned or maintained in a reasonably safe condition. Martinez slipped on the slick surface and fell, landing on his left side and sustaining injuries to his ribs, hip, thigh, and spine.
Following the incident, Martinez visited the ship’s infirmary, where he was diagnosed with contusions and a soft tissue disorder. Upon returning home, further medical evaluation revealed two fractured ribs. He has since been under the care of a spinal and orthopedic surgeon, who has recommended back surgery due to ongoing spinal pain that has not responded to conservative treatment.
The complaint asserts that MSC Cruises failed to maintain the area in a reasonably safe condition and allowed water to accumulate in large puddles in a location with high passenger traffic. It further claims that MSC did not inspect, clean, or rope off the hazardous area, nor did it place any warning signs, cones, or other cautionary markers to alert passengers of the danger. Martinez contends that the area’s proximity to the water slide made water accumulation foreseeable and that MSC had a duty to anticipate and mitigate the risks associated with this deck layout.
The lawsuit references several previous legal actions against MSC involving similar facts—passenger slip and fall injuries resulting from unreasonably wet deck surfaces, including incidents near water slides and pool areas. Cases such as Williams v. MSC Cruises S.A., Duncan v. MSC Cruises S.A., and Ebanks v. MSC Cruises SA are cited as evidence that MSC was aware of the risks but failed to implement appropriate safety measures fleetwide.
Martinez also brings a separate count for failure to warn, alleging that MSC breached its duty to notify passengers of hidden dangers. He claims there were no visual or verbal warnings of the slippery condition that led to his fall and that MSC either knew about the hazard or should have known through reasonable inspection. The complaint emphasizes that no signage, roping, or barriers were present on Deck 19 despite the foreseeable danger posed by water runoff from nearby attractions.
Martinez alleges that MSC’s negligence in failing to inspect and warn of the hazardous condition violated its legal obligations as a common carrier, and that the risk was not open or obvious to passengers like himself.
Martinez seeks damages exceeding $75,000 for serious and continuing injuries that have significantly impacted his quality of life. He claims to have suffered physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and diminished physical capacity. He also seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, including surgical intervention for his spinal injuries. At the time of filing, he is still undergoing treatment and has not reached maximum medical improvement.
The lawsuit underscores MSC’s alleged failure to exercise reasonable care in deck maintenance, guest safety protocols, and hazard warnings, all of which contributed to Martinez’s fall and resulting injuries.
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to unreasonably wet or slippery deck surfaces—especially in areas near pools or water slides—may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines like MSC have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions and adequately warn guests of hidden hazards. If you or a loved one has experienced a similar incident aboard a cruise ship, speak with an experienced maritime injury attorney to understand your rights and potential legal remedies.
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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 outcome.