Florida Resident Sues Celebrity Cruises After Restroom Door Strike on Celebrity Constellation
Steven Heller, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises Inc. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20796-KMW, alleges that Heller sustained serious injuries while traveling as a passenger aboard the Celebrity Constellation on February 25, 2025. According to the complaint, the incident involved a forceful impact from a restroom entrance door that was improperly configured and lacked necessary safety mechanisms to protect passengers in confined spaces.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Celebrity Constellation Due to Hazardous Restroom Door Configuration and Lack of Safety Dampers
The complaint states that the incident occurred while Heller was inside a public restroom aboard the vessel. As he prepared to enter a restroom stall, another passenger opened the main entrance door to the facility. The entrance door allegedly swung open to the right with significant force, making direct contact with Heller, who was standing immediately adjacent to the entrance near the stall area. The lawsuit argues that the subject area was dangerous because the entrance door swung directly into the path of the stall door, creating a predictable collision hazard. Heller asserts that the restroom lacked adequate spacing, warnings, or safeguards, such as doorstops or dampers, to prevent the entrance door from striking individuals. The complaint further notes that the hazardous condition was not open or obvious, and the passenger had no way of knowing the danger existed before the impact occurred.
Celebrity Cruises Accused of Constructive Knowledge of Dangerous Door Layout and Failure to Warn Passengers
Heller alleges that Celebrity Cruises had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions within the restroom. The legal filing points out that the cruise line was responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the restroom and that the hazardous placement of the doors could not have existed without the defendant’s involvement or approval. Furthermore, the complaint suggests that shipboard crew and maintenance personnel regularly serviced the area, providing them with repeated opportunities to recognize the risk of the entrance door swinging into the stall path. To support the claim of foreseeable risk, the plaintiff’s legal team references similar prior incidents involving door-related injuries on cruise ships, including cases like White v. Celebrity Cruises and Weiss v. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. These cases are cited to demonstrate that the cruise line should have been aware that improperly positioned or operated doors in confined passenger spaces pose a significant risk of harm.
Lawsuit Alleges Negligent Design and Failure to Maintain Safe Restroom Facilities Aboard Celebrity Constellation
The lawsuit includes specific allegations regarding the design and maintenance of the vessel. Heller contends that Celebrity Cruises breached its duty of care by failing to install safety devices such as door stops or dampers that would have regulated the speed and force of the swinging door. The complaint also alleges a failure to provide adequate instructions or signage to alert passengers to the potential for a collision in the high-traffic restroom area. From a design perspective, the plaintiff argues that the cruise line failed to evaluate the risks associated with the specific layout of the restroom and stall configurations, which ultimately created a foreseeable risk of impact. The lawsuit claims that Celebrity Cruises directly participated in and approved the interior designs of the Celebrity Constellation, making them responsible for the structural hazards that led to the incident.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Injuries and Medical Expenses Following Celebrity Cruises Negligence
The complaint brings four counts against the cruise line: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, negligent design, and general negligence. Heller claims that as a direct result of the cruise line’s failure to provide a reasonably safe environment, he suffered injuries to his body and extremities, physical pain, mental anguish, and a loss of enjoyment of life. The lawsuit further states that the injuries are permanent or continuing in nature and have resulted in medical expenses and an impairment of his ability to work. In addition to physical and emotional damages, the plaintiff is seeking recovery for the lost benefit of his vacation and cruise costs. Heller has requested a trial by jury and an advisory jury to determine the full extent of the damages recoverable under general maritime law.
Contact a Cruise Ship Restroom Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt by Unsafe Vessel Conditions
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to poorly designed facilities, hazardous door configurations, or a lack of safety warnings may be eligible for compensation under maritime law. Cruise operators have a legal responsibility to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and to warn passengers of known hazards that are not open and obvious. If you or a loved one experienced a similar injury while traveling on a cruise ship, it is important to understand your legal rights. Our team of experienced maritime attorneys can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim against a major cruise line.
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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.
