Florida Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Suffering Severe Second Degree Burns on Hot Lido Deck of Carnival Magic

Jorge Luis Alverio Nunez, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23368-KMW, alleges that Nunez suffered serious second degree burn injuries to his feet after walking barefoot on an excessively hot exterior deck aboard the Carnival Magic on May 21, 2025.

Cruise Passenger Injured on Carnival Magic Due to Dangerously Hot Deck Surface with No Warning Signs

According to the complaint, the incident occurred during the afternoon hours while the vessel was operating a cruise departing from Miami. Nunez was enjoying the afternoon in the Lido Deck area, which is located on deck ten of the ship. After utilizing the pool, he walked barefoot for approximately twenty steps across the open deck toward his lounge chairs to retrieve and put on his shoes. The complaint alleges that the deck surface had reached an extreme and dangerous temperature capable of inflicting deep tissue damage within seconds. Upon stepping onto the material, Nunez suffered painful second degree burns on the bottom of both feet. The plaintiff asserts that Carnival allowed the open Lido Deck to remain in this hazardous condition for an extended period of time without taking measures to cool the surface. Furthermore, Nunez states he had no reason to anticipate that the flooring material could become hot enough to cause severe burns instantly, arguing that the true danger of the hidden high temperature was not open or obvious to an ordinary passenger.

Carnival Accused of Failing to Maintain Warn and Secure Unsafe Deck Conditions Despite Fleetwide Notice

The lawsuit alleges that Carnival had extensive prior actual and constructive knowledge regarding the tendency of its cruise ship decks to reach scorching, unsafe temperatures. To demonstrate that the cruise line was fully aware of the risk, the plaintiff legal team references twenty five specific instances over the preceding six years where passengers sustained verified burns on identical or substantially similar deck materials across the Carnival fleet. These incidents include passengers who suffered severe foot burns while walking barefoot on ships such as the Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Dream, Carnival Legend, Carnival Celebration, and the Carnival Magic itself. In addition to these documented injury cases, the complaint outlines forty two separate passenger complaints submitted directly to Carnival during the same six year timeframe. Passengers on numerous vessels reported burning their soles, experiencing painful blistering, and needing medical attention or wheelchairs after attempting to walk to pools, waterslides, or hot tubs. Multiple guests explicitly notified the cruise line that the flooring was a serious safety hazard and suggested using cooler materials, rubber mats, or posting visible warning signs. Despite this continuous pattern of injuries and direct passenger feedback, Carnival allegedly failed to install any warning signs, notifications, or notices near the pool areas to alert guests to the heat risk.

Complaint Alleges Dangerous Deck Material Design and Failure to Implement Heat Mitigation Measures

Beyond a failure to warn passengers, the lawsuit focuses heavily on Carnival choice and continued use of the specific flooring product installed in the outdoor recreational spaces. The complaint identifies the material as API Syntheteak, a synthetic decking product utilized heavily across the entire Carnival cruise fleet. The plaintiff alleges that the manufacturer of this decking material provided Carnival with explicit information and testing data dating as far back as 2014, warning that the synthetic material could absorb solar radiation and reach surface temperatures high enough to cause instant skin burns. The lawsuit asserts that Carnival acted negligently by continuing to install and maintain this dangerous material in high traffic areas where passengers are widely expected and permitted to walk barefoot. According to the filing, Carnival could have remedied the ongoing danger by replacing the material with safer alternatives, applying heat resistant coatings, installing overhead shading structures, monitoring surface temperatures, or spraying the deck down with cool water. By refusing to make alterations or mandate that passengers wear footwear, the cruise line allegedly showed an ongoing disregard for passenger safety.

Plaintiff Seeks Compensatory and Punitive Damages for Permanent Foot Injuries and Corporate Misconduct

Nunez brings multiple counts against Carnival Corporation, including negligent failure to warn, general negligence, and negligent continued use of a dangerous deck material. The plaintiff asserts that as a direct consequence of contact with the hot surface, he experienced severe pain and suffering, physical disfigurement, mental anguish, and a loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. He has already undergone extensive medical treatment, incurred major hospitalization and nursing expenses, and faces ongoing future medical care and potential infections. The suit notes that Nunez suffered lost earnings, a diminished ability to earn money, and the complete loss of the financial value of his vacation cruise. Due to the severe nature of the injuries and the long term impact on his mobility, the plaintiff seeks compensatory damages in excess of five million dollars. Furthermore, the complaint includes a specific claim for punitive damages, alleging that Carnival conduct represents outrageous corporate behavior. The plaintiff argues that the cruise line acted willfully, wantonly, and with reckless disregard because management knew that at least two prior passengers across the fleet had suffered burns so catastrophic that they required the amputation of a foot and leg below the knee. The filing also highlights that hot decks disproportionately endanger vulnerable passenger groups, such as individuals with diabetes who suffer from impaired sensation and delayed wound healing, making Carnival total inaction even more reckless.

Contact a Cruise Ship Deck Burn Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Vessel in Unsafe Conditions

Cruise passengers who suffer severe burns or other debilitating injuries due to dangerously hot deck materials, lack of warning signage, or poorly maintained pool areas may be entitled to significant financial compensation under general maritime law. Mega cruise lines like Carnival have a non delegable legal obligation to maintain all public decks, walkways, and recreational areas in a reasonably safe condition to protect families and travelers from predictable harm. If you or a loved one experienced a severe burn injury or required medical attention after walking on a cruise ship deck, contact our dedicated team of maritime legal advocates today. We are prepared to review your case, hold the cruise lines accountable, and help you secure the recovery you deserve.

Contact us now to speak with a maritime 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.