Georgia Passenger Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slip and Fall on Wet Sports Court Aboard Carnival Sunrise
Calvin Artis, Jr., a resident of Georgia, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-25697-KMM, alleges that Artis suffered severe and permanent injuries after slipping and falling on a deteriorated, wet basketball court surface aboard the Carnival Sunrise on August 24, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Carnival Sunrise Due to Deteriorated and Slippery Outdoor Basketball Court Surface
According to the complaint, the incident took place while Artis was playing basketball on the outdoor sports court located on an upper weather deck. The playing surface was allegedly deteriorated, wet, and lacking adequate slip resistance for athletic activity. Although Carnival provided basketball equipment and actively invited passengers to utilize the recreation area, the court surface failed to provide the necessary traction reasonably expected for sports use. Artis asserts that the extreme slipperiness caused him to slip and fall violently, resulting in a full-thickness rupture of his left patellar tendon that required immediate emergency shipboard medical care and urgent shoreside surgical intervention.
Carnival Accused of Notice Concerning Open Deck Hazards and Failure to Maintain Safe Sports Amenities
The complaint alleges that Carnival had both actual and constructive notice of the unsafe deck surface. The degraded condition of the court developed progressively over time through regular wear, passenger traffic, and continuous exposure to weather elements. Plaintiff argues that shipboard crewmembers regularly traversed, cleaned, and inspected the open decks, making the hazard open and obvious to crewmembers responsible for shipboard safety. Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that Carnival maintains maintenance logs, safety reports, guest complaint records, and closed-circuit television footage that document prior similar slip hazards on sports courts across the fleet, yet the cruise line failed to repair, resurface, or dry the area.
Lawsuit Highlights Inadequate Surface Inspections and Failure to Warn Passengers of Traction Hazards
The filing asserts that the hazard extended beyond the visible presence of water on an open deck, focusing instead on the severe degree to which the worn surface lost all reasonable traction when damp. The complaint notes that Carnival failed to conduct adequate safety inspections, neglected to implement proper maintenance protocols, and did not post warning signs or barriers around the wet recreation area. Artis contends that a reasonable passenger playing basketball could not have anticipated the total loss of surface grip, and that Carnival breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to restrict access or caution guests.
Vicarious Liability and Negligence Claims Seek Damages for Surgery, Lost Wages, and Ongoing Medical Care
Artis brings four distinct counts of maritime negligence against Carnival, encompassing negligent failure to maintain and repair, negligent failure to inspect, negligent failure to warn, and vicarious liability for the acts of recreation crewmembers who opened the court and distributed equipment under dangerous conditions. Following the fall, shipboard physicians immobilized the knee and arranged for transport to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where Artis underwent open primary surgical repair. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses exceeding 132,000 dollars, extensive pain and suffering, physical impairment, scarring, emotional distress, lost earnings, and diminished future earning capacity.
Contact a Cruise Ship Deck Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on an Unsafe Recreational Deck
Cruise passengers injured on wet decks, deteriorated sports courts, or poorly maintained ship amenities may be entitled to financial recovery under maritime law. Cruise operators owe passengers a duty of reasonable care to inspect, maintain, and properly warn of unsafe deck conditions. If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries during a cruise ship sports or deck accident, speaking with an experienced cruise accident attorney can help protect your rights.
Contact us now to speak with an experienced cruise ship injury lawyer about your potential claim.
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.
