Linda Dervis, a Texas resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The case, Case No. 1:25-cv-23686-BB, alleges that Dervis sustained severe and permanent injuries after slipping on a wet surface on Deck 10 of the Carnival Dream on August 19, 2024.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on the Lido Deck (Deck 10) of the Carnival Dream between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. while Dervis was walking near the pool area. The floor in the subject area was allegedly unreasonably slippery due to a wet condition that Carnival knew or should have known existed. Despite the presence of nearby crewmembers within 10 to 15 minutes of the incident, no safety measures were taken to warn passengers or to dry or block off the hazardous area.
Dervis claims the flooring was defective and did not meet slip resistance standards established by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), with a coefficient of friction below both Carnival’s own minimum of 0.42 and the industry-preferred wet floor minimum of 0.60. The complaint further alleges that Carnival failed to apply anti-slip treatments or properly inspect and maintain the area, resulting in a dangerous walking surface that was not open or obvious to passengers.
Dervis asserts that Carnival had both actual and constructive notice of the hazard. The lawsuit cites several reasons for this, including the close proximity of crewmembers who failed to intervene, Carnival’s role in approving or installing the deck materials, and alleged prior similar incidents involving slippery flooring aboard the Dream and other vessels in the fleet.
The complaint also claims that Carnival failed to conduct inspections required under its own policies, such as interval floor checks every fifteen minutes. This alleged lack of inspection and maintenance allowed the hazardous condition to persist. Carnival is further accused of failing to provide adequate training and supervision to ensure compliance with safety protocols on passenger decks.
In addition to failure to warn and maintain, the complaint brings a count of negligent design and installation. Dervis claims that Carnival played an active role in designing and approving the surface materials used in the Lido Deck area, including selection of materials with inadequate traction under wet conditions. She alleges that Carnival had ultimate authority to inspect, approve, or reject these materials before the vessel was placed into service, and that it chose to proceed despite knowing the flooring failed to meet safety standards.
The lawsuit emphasizes that the floor’s dangerously low slip resistance under common maritime conditions—such as waves, water tracked from the pool, and ship movement—should have prompted a redesign or corrective action. Yet Carnival continued to use the flooring across its fleet and failed to install proper safeguards or modify the hazardous area even after the ship’s initial launch in 2009.
Dervis also alleges that Carnival is vicariously liable for the negligence of its crewmembers and employees, including those in its New Build and Refurbishment departments. The complaint argues that these departments designed, approved, or selected the slippery surface and failed to implement safer alternatives. It further claims that Carnival retained full control over construction, inspection, and material selection processes and is liable for any failures by its agents or contractors in those roles.
The lawsuit states that under recent legal precedent, such as Yusko v. NCL (Bahamas), Ltd., a cruise line can be held liable for employee negligence even without passenger evidence of prior notice of the condition. Accordingly, Dervis claims notice is not a prerequisite to her vicarious liability claim.
Dervis brings four counts of negligence against Carnival: failure to remedy a hazardous condition, failure to warn of a dangerous condition, negligent design and installation, and vicarious liability for crew and employee negligence. She alleges her injuries include disc herniations, lumbar anterolisthesis, a torn meniscus, ganglion cysts in her knee, and chronic pain affecting her back, neck, and lower extremities.
She seeks damages for past and future medical care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, disfigurement, and emotional suffering. The complaint also seeks compensation for the lost value of her cruise and related travel expenses, asserting that her vacation was irreparably disrupted as a direct result of the incident.
Passengers injured on cruise ships due to slippery decks or failure to warn of hazardous conditions may be entitled to compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise lines have a legal obligation to ensure that walkways and public areas on board their vessels are designed and maintained in a reasonably safe condition. If you or someone you love slipped on a wet cruise ship deck, speak with an experienced maritime injury lawyer to understand your rights and legal options.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall attorney.
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.