California Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slipping on Wet Promenade Deck Aboard Carnival Firenze
Ronald Oliverie, a California resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25462-BB, alleges that Oliverie suffered severe and permanent injuries after slipping and falling on a wet surface in the Promenade area aboard the Carnival Firenze on December 10, 2024.
Passenger Slips on Wet Floor in Promenade Area With No Warning Signs on Carnival Firenze
According to the complaint, Oliverie was walking through the Promenade when he slipped on a foreign substance—believed to be water or another liquid—on the deck. The lawsuit states that several crew members were nearby and would have been able to see the hazardous condition, yet no warning signs or barriers were present to alert passengers of the danger. The floor surface was allegedly unreasonably slippery and unsafe under the circumstances, especially for a high-traffic area such as the Promenade.
Oliverie claims he had no reason to anticipate the risk and was not warned verbally or visually about the wet flooring. The lack of signage, monitoring, and maintenance allegedly created a foreseeable hazard that Carnival failed to address.
Carnival Knew of Prior Falls on Promenade Decks Across Fleet, Lawsuit Claims
The lawsuit emphasizes that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the risk of slip and fall incidents on Promenade decks. It cites at least eleven prior passenger injuries from similar accidents on various Carnival ships, including the Carnival Magic, Glory, Liberty, Radiance, Conquest, Elation, Miracle, Horizon, and Firenze. These incidents span from December 2021 through February 2024 and involved passengers slipping on foreign substances in nearly identical circumstances.
The complaint alleges that Carnival ignored industry standards and its own internal policies requiring monitoring of common areas, placing caution signs, and performing regular inspections. The plaintiff’s attorneys claim that the cruise line’s failure to act on past incidents and its alleged use of confidential settlements demonstrate a pattern of concealing recurring safety hazards to limit liability.
Complaint Alleges Negligence in Failing to Warn, Maintain, and Design Safe Walking Conditions
Oliverie’s lawsuit brings three counts of negligence against Carnival: negligent failure to warn, negligent maintenance, and general negligence. The claims assert that Carnival failed to:
- Post visible warning signs near wet areas
- Maintain non-slip flooring or place mats in high-traffic walkways
- Inspect and clean the Promenade deck regularly
- Enforce safety policies requiring signage and supervision
- Close off hazardous areas when unsafe conditions were present
The complaint also argues that the flooring material used in the Promenade area lacked appropriate slip resistance and that Carnival failed to install anti-slip coatings or select materials suited to high-moisture, high-traffic conditions.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Severe Injuries, Lost Wages, and Medical Treatment After Cruise Fall
As a result of the fall, Oliverie alleges he sustained injuries to his body and extremities that are permanent and continuing in nature. He claims to have suffered physical pain, emotional distress, medical expenses, disability, disfigurement, and a loss of future earning capacity. The lawsuit also seeks compensation for the loss of the value of the cruise and associated travel expenses.
Oliverie is demanding a jury trial and full damages available under maritime law for cruise ship injury victims.
Hurt in a Slip and Fall on a Cruise Ship Promenade? Talk to a Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a slip and fall on a cruise ship walkway, especially in high-traffic areas like the Promenade or pool decks, you may be entitled to compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise lines have a legal duty to monitor and maintain walking surfaces, post appropriate warnings, and take action when they are aware of recurring hazards.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall lawyer in Florida.
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.
