Arizona Woman Sues Norwegian Cruise Line After Slip and Fall in Bar Aboard the Norwegian Gem
Brenda Burke, a resident of Arizona, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., doing business as Norwegian Cruise Line, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-24222-JEM, alleges that Burke suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping and falling due to a dangerous floor and chair configuration inside a bar aboard the Norwegian Gem on May 26, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Inside Norwegian Gem Bar Due to Slippery Flooring and Worn Out Chair Pads
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Burke was a fare-paying passenger and invitee lounging lawfully in a crowded shipboard bar. While seated, Burke consumed a single beer before attempting to slide her heavy wooden chair back to stand up. As she moved, the chair shifted unexpectedly on the slick floor surface beneath her, causing her to lose her balance and fall violently to the ground. As she fell, the heavy wooden chair struck her in the neck before she landed forcefully on her back and buttocks. The lawsuit asserts that the flooring surface inside the lounge was dangerously slippery and lacked appropriate coefficient of friction standards, a hazard compounded by the presence of unreasonably worn out chair pads on the seating provided by the cruise line.
Norwegian Cruise Line Accused of Failing to Inspect, Maintain, and Warn of Dangerous Lounge Hazards
The lawsuit alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazardous conditions inside the bar lounge but failed to remedy the situation or protect passengers. The plaintiff asserts that shipboard crew members were stationed within 10 to 15 feet of the fall location, maintaining a direct line of sight to the hazard, yet failed to block off the area, clean the surface, or provide any warning to passengers. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the cruise line failed to follow its own internal safety protocols, which require routine inspections at designated intervals to detect and eliminate passenger slipping hazards. Burke contends that the dangerous condition was neither open nor obvious to a reasonable traveler, and that she received no verbal or physical warnings regarding the hazardous traction of the flooring or the defective state of the seating.
Complaint Alleges Defective Floor Design, Inadequate Slip Resistance, and Unsafe Shipboard Materials on Norwegian Gem
In addition to maintenance failures, Burke alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line participated in or approved the negligent design, construction, and material selection for the lounge area. The complaint highlights that the flooring failed to meet established industry safety guidelines, specifically citing American National Standards Institute traction recommendations. The plaintiff notes that while a proper maritime walking surface should maintain a safe slip resistance rating, the floor selected and installed by the cruise line fell well below reasonable standards, creating an ongoing risk to passengers. The complaint further notes that the cruise line has utilized this exact defective flooring and chair setup across multiple sister ships within its Jewel class fleet, including the Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Pearl, showing a systemic failure to implement proper preventive design measures.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Bodily Harm, Medical Care, and Disrupted Vacation Value
Burke brings multiple counts of negligence against the cruise line, including negligent failure to remedy, negligent failure to warn, and vicarious liability for negligent design, installation, and crew performance. The lawsuit alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line breached its legal duty to exercise reasonable care under maritime circumstances, directly resulting in severe and permanent physical injuries. As a result of the fall, Burke claims she sustained severe physical trauma, ongoing pain and suffering, mental anguish, scarring, disfigurement, and a permanent loss of independence and life enjoyment. She is seeking damages to cover past and future hospital expenses, medical and nursing care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and the lost financial value of her cruise vacation and associated transportation costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Lounge Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Injured on a Vessel in Unsafe Conditions
Cruise passengers who sustain injuries due to unsafe flooring, defective furniture, or inadequate safety warnings inside shipboard bars and lounges may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Major cruise lines have a non-delegable legal obligation to provide a safe environment and ensure that all public spaces, walkways, and seating arrangements are properly designed, routinely inspected, and safely maintained. If you or a loved one suffered a severe injury in a similar slip and fall accident while traveling at sea, reach out to an experienced maritime injury attorney to discuss your case.
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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.
