Kentucky Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slip and Fall on Slick Lido Deck Tile Aboard Carnival Sunrise
Jon Garrett Perry, a resident of Kentucky, has filed a federal maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:26-cv-26398-RKA. The lawsuit alleges that Perry sustained severe and lasting orthopedic injuries after an inattentive crewmember collided with him, causing him to step onto an unmatted, slippery tile surface in the Lido Deck buffet area aboard the Carnival Sunrise on September 23, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Carnival Sunrise Lido Deck Near Lucky Bowl Food Station
According to the complaint, the incident occurred around mid-morning while Perry was walking along a carpeted passageway on Deck 9 heading toward breakfast with his fiancée. As they walked, a Carnival crewmember performing table clearing and bussing duties moved abruptly into his walking path without maintaining a proper lookout. The crewmember collided with Perry, forcing him to step to the right off the carpeted hallway and onto a hard tile apron fronting the ship’s Lucky Bowl counter service venue. Upon stepping onto the hard tile apron, Perry’s foot slid forward on the slick surface, causing his leg to buckle underneath him in a hyperextension fall that fractured his ankle.
Lawsuit Cites Dangerous Flooring Transition and Inattentive Crew in Cruise Dining Slip and Fall
The complaint outlines that the tile surface lacked any caution cones, warning signs, traction matting, or non-slip coatings despite sitting directly adjacent to a high-traffic beverage and food station where spills and food debris regularly occur. Plaintiff asserts that Carnival set up queue stanchions that purposely routed guest foot traffic over this hard tile apron rather than around it, creating a known slip hazard where traction abruptly changed from carpet to smooth flooring. Medical personnel aboard the ship treated Perry within minutes, documenting a fractured ankle and classifying the event as an official maritime incident reportable to the United States Coast Guard.
Plaintiff Alleges Negligent Training, Inadequate Maintenance, and Vicarious Liability Aboard Carnival Sunrise
The lawsuit brings five causes of action against Carnival under general maritime law: vicarious liability for the crewmember’s negligent movements, negligent maintenance of the vessel’s flooring, negligent failure to warn of the slippery tile, negligent training of dining staff, and negligent supervision. Perry argues that the cruise line possessed actual or constructive notice of the hazardous condition through internal safety policies requiring regular floor inspections and mat placement in buffet dining zones, as well as prior slip and fall reports across the Carnival fleet. Due to his medical status as a heart and kidney transplant recipient, the resulting talus fracture, ligament sprains, and post-traumatic knee contusions required prolonged immobilization in a walking boot, ongoing physical therapy, and joint injections, while significantly complicating his medical care and daily physical function.
Contact an Experienced Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
Passengers injured while navigating slick buffet tiles, transition walkways, or cluttered dining areas aboard cruise ships may be entitled to financial recovery under federal maritime law. Cruise operators have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to ensure walkways are clear of hazards and properly maintained with non-skid surfaces. If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries due to negligence on a cruise vacation, reaching out to an experienced maritime attorney can help protect your legal rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Visit our contact page at https://holzberglegal.com/contact-us/ to speak directly with an experienced maritime injury lawyer about your 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.
