Canadian Seaman Sues Yacht Owner After Knee Injury Boarding M/Y Axtana Due to Lack of Safe Gangway
Ivett Stumfold, a resident and citizen of Canada, has filed a verified complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida against WMB MG 110 LLC and the motor yacht M/Y Axtana. The lawsuit, assigned Case No. 1:25-cv-25749-JAL, asserts claims for Jones Act negligence, unseaworthiness, and failure to provide maintenance and cure following a severe knee injury Stumfold sustained while working as a stewardess aboard the vessel. The action proceeds both against the yacht owner in personam and against the vessel itself in rem to foreclose on a maritime lien.
Crew Member Alleges Serious Knee Injury Attempting to Board Motor Yacht Axtana Without Safe Gangway
According to the complaint filed on December 9, 2025, the incident took place on October 17, 2024, while Stumfold was employed as a crew member in the service of the M/Y Axtana. The lawsuit alleges that Stumfold was required to board the vessel using an unsafe, hazardous, and inadequate means of access. As she attempted to ingress the yacht using this allegedly dangerous arrangement, she injured herself and suffered a torn meniscus. The plaintiff contends that the yacht owner failed to provide a proper and secure means of ingress and egress for the crew. The injury necessitated significant medical intervention, eventually leading to knee surgery on July 8, 2025. Stumfold asserts that her injuries are serious and that she has not yet reached maximum medical improvement.
Lawsuit Claims Yacht Owner Knew of Hazardous Boarding Conditions and Failed to Deploy Available Portable Gangway
The complaint specifically alleges that the yacht owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous boarding conditions. Stumfold claims that other crew members and individuals had previously experienced difficulties attempting to board the yacht due to the same unsafe setup and that the owner was aware of these prior incidents. A key aspect of the negligence claim is the allegation that the owner actually possessed a portable gangway that would have provided a safe means of access. However, the lawsuit states that the owner failed to deploy this safety equipment consistently for the crew and specifically did not use it on the date of Stumfold’s injury. By failing to utilize available safety equipment and forcing crew to use an inadequate access point, the plaintiff argues the vessel was rendered unseaworthy and the owner breached their duty to provide a reasonably safe place to work.
Plaintiff Accuses Employer of Wrongful Termination and Failure to Provide Maintenance and Cure After Surgery
Beyond the initial injury claims, the lawsuit levies serious accusations regarding the yacht owner’s conduct following the accident. Under general maritime law, injured seamen are entitled to maintenance and cure, which includes coverage for medical expenses and daily living costs until they reach maximum medical improvement. Stumfold alleges that the owner willfully and arbitrarily refused to pay full and prompt maintenance and cure. The complaint details that Stumfold was terminated from her position on June 2, 2025, and that the owner subsequently cancelled her medical insurance on September 15, 2025, despite her ongoing need for medical care and recovery following her July surgery. The plaintiff characterizes the owner’s failure to pay these mandated benefits as callous and willful, a legal threshold that she argues entitles her to recover attorneys’ fees in addition to compensatory damages.
Action Seeks Foreclosure of Maritime Lien Against M/Y Axtana for Unpaid Medical Expenses and Wages
Stumfold has invoked the court’s admiralty jurisdiction to arrest the vessel and foreclose on a preferred maritime lien. The complaint argues that because the injury resulted from Jones Act negligence and unseaworthiness, and because the owner failed to pay maintenance and cure, a high-ranking maritime lien has attached to the M/Y Axtana, its engines, tackle, and appurtenances. The lawsuit seeks a warrant for the arrest of the vessel by the U.S. Marshal to ensure security for the damages claimed. Stumfold is seeking a jury trial to recover for her physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical disability, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity. The suit demands judgment against the owner and the eventual sale of the vessel if the debts and damages remain unsatisfied.
Contact a Maritime Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Working Aboard a Yacht or Commercial Vessel
Jones Act seamen who are injured in the service of a vessel due to negligence or unseaworthy conditions have specific rights under federal law. Employers and vessel owners have a non-delegable duty to provide a safe working environment, including safe ingress and egress from the ship. Additionally, injured crew members are generally entitled to maintenance and cure regardless of fault. If you or a loved one suffered an injury while working as a crew member aboard a yacht or commercial ship, or if your employer has wrongfully denied your medical benefits, contact our experienced maritime injury attorneys today. We can help you navigate the complex laws governing worksite injuries at sea.
Contact us now to speak with a maritime injury 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.
