Louisiana Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Balcony Door Slams Shut and Lacerates Foot on Carnival Liberty
Muriel Cioffi, a Louisiana resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25541-RAR, alleges that Cioffi sustained severe injuries when a balcony door aboard the Carnival Liberty slammed shut unexpectedly and lacerated her right foot while she was reentering her stateroom on September 29, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Foot Injury When Balcony Door Closes Forcefully and Without Warning
According to the complaint, Cioffi had been using her private stateroom balcony and was walking back inside through the open balcony door when the door suddenly and forcefully slammed shut on her foot. The door allegedly closed with excessive speed and uncontrolled force, leaving her unable to clear the threshold in time. The incident caused a severe laceration and resulted in permanent injury, pain, and disability.
The lawsuit alleges that this was not an isolated malfunction. The door, Cioffi claims, had a known tendency to close rapidly and unpredictably due to inadequate mechanical controls, such as faulty latches or pistons. These components were allegedly not inspected, repaired, or adjusted according to manufacturer specifications or cruise industry safety protocols.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Maintain Balcony Door and Ignoring Similar Incidents on Liberty and Other Ships
The complaint brings two counts of negligence against Carnival: negligent maintenance and negligent failure to warn. Cioffi alleges that Carnival knew, or should have known, of the hazardous condition through its regular cleaning and inspection routines, which would have involved repeatedly opening and closing the very balcony door that injured her.
In addition, Carnival is accused of ignoring a pattern of similar door-related injuries on other vessels in its fleet, including:
- Quashen v. Carnival Corporation (2020, Carnival Inspiration)
- Tuttle v. Carnival Corporation (2023, Carnival Horizon)
- Ashworth v. Carnival Corporation (2023, Carnival Horizon)
- White v. Carnival Corporation (2024, Carnival Sunrise)
These prior lawsuits are cited to show that Carnival had actual or constructive notice of the risk posed by balcony doors that close with excessive force. Cioffi argues that despite this, Carnival failed to implement corrective measures, failed to inspect or maintain the doors properly, and failed to warn passengers of the risk—either through signage or verbal briefings.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Injury, Medical Bills, and Loss of Enjoyment from Carnival Cruise Accident
Cioffi alleges she sustained severe lacerations, emotional distress, permanent disability, and loss of enjoyment of life as a result of the balcony door incident. She seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, including medical expenses, future care costs, and damages for pain and suffering. The lawsuit demands a jury trial on all issues triable by right.
Contact a Cruise Ship Balcony Door Injury Lawyer if You Were Hurt Due to Unsafe Cabin Doors
If you or someone you love was injured on a cruise due to malfunctioning or dangerous stateroom doors—especially balcony doors that close rapidly or without warning—you may have a claim under maritime law. Cruise lines are responsible for maintaining safe conditions in passenger cabins and must warn of known dangers. Our legal team can help evaluate whether your injuries entitle you to compensation.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney experienced in balcony door injury claims.
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.
