Florida Couple Sues MSC Cruises After Assault by Intoxicated Passengers During Comedy Show on MSC Seaside
Douglas Scott and Elizabeth Scott, residents of Florida, have filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises, S.A., a Swiss corporation, in the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 0:25-cv-62509-WPD, seeks damages in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs. The plaintiffs allege they were attacked and injured by visibly intoxicated, disorderly, and disruptive passengers during an evening show aboard the MSC Seaside on December 6, 2024.
MSC Crew Allegedly Failed to Intervene During Public Sexual Activity and Disruptive Behavior
The incident occurred in the theater on Deck 7 of the MSC Seaside during a comedy show. Shortly after the performance began, four passengers—two women and two men—entered the theater and sat on the stairs near the Scotts. The plaintiffs allege these passengers were visibly intoxicated and began loudly talking, disrupting the performance, and engaging in disorderly conduct, including public sexual activity in full view of the Scotts and other guests.
This disruptive and disorderly conduct continued and escalated for several minutes, during which no security personnel or crewmember intervened to stop, control, or address the behavior by warning or removing the unruly passengers.
Plaintiff Douglas Scott left his seat, located a crewmember present in the theater, and reported the conduct. Despite this report, the behavior of the intoxicated passengers continued without security or crew response.
Passenger Attacked in Theater, Leading to Serious Back, Neck, and Hip Injuries
Shortly after Mr. Scott returned to his seat, one of the intoxicated female passengers confronted him, shouted at him, and struck him multiple times in the face, causing his eyeglasses to fall and resulting in immediate facial pain, swelling, and redness.
During the same altercation, Elizabeth Scott, who was seated next to her husband, was physically jostled and struck, resulting in physical injuries. A crewmember present in the theater attempted to intervene but failed to effectively prevent or deter the assault.
When a crewmember eventually arrived, the physical altercation was already underway. One of the intoxicated passengers then struck Douglas Scott, causing him to fall backwards onto Elizabeth Scott, knocking both plaintiffs to the floor.
Following the incident, Elizabeth Scott developed progressively worsening right hip pain, ultimately requiring a right anterior total hip arthroplasty (total hip replacement) on June 16, 2025. Douglas Scott developed progressively worsening neck, mid-back, and low-back symptoms, with subsequent medical evaluation confirming cervical stenosis, thoracic dextroscoliosis, and lumbar stenosis that became symptomatic after the physical altercation.
Negligent Security and Overserving Alcohol Cited as Direct Causes of Assault
The lawsuit brings two counts of negligence against MSC Cruises, both under a theory of vicarious liability: Negligent Security and Negligent Failure to Exercise Reasonable Care in Serving Alcohol to Passengers.
Negligent Security: The plaintiffs allege that the Deck 7 theater, as a location where crowds gathered for an evening event, foreseeably had passengers consuming alcoholic beverages, thus creating a foreseeable need for monitoring and security. MSC’s crewmembers breached their duty of reasonable care by allowing visibly intoxicated and disorderly passengers to remain in the theater despite their public sexual conduct, shouting, and aggressive behavior. The plaintiffs argue that despite receiving actual notice of the misconduct from Douglas Scott, no security personnel responded, and no crewmember timely intervened to de-escalate the situation until the attack occurred.
Negligent Failure to Serve Alcohol Responsibly: The plaintiffs allege that MSC’s alcohol-service personnel owed a duty to refrain from serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated passengers. The attacking passengers were already visibly intoxicated prior to entering the theater, as evidenced by their behavior and impaired coordination. MSC’s crewmembers breached their duty by negligently overserving these passengers, thereby failing to take reasonable steps to prevent them from becoming a danger to others.
The plaintiffs demand judgment against MSC Cruises for compensatory damages, interest, costs, and a trial by jury.
If you or a family member has been injured due to a security lapse or an assault by an intoxicated passenger on a cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to provide adequate security and must refrain from overserving alcohol to passengers who are visibly impaired. Contact our experienced negligent security and cruise ship injury lawyers today to discuss your rights.
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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.
