Maryland Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Chair Collapses in Cucina del Capitano on Mardi Gras
Larry Miles, a Maryland resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25090-JB, alleges that Miles suffered serious injuries when a chair collapsed beneath him while dining at the Cucina del Capitano restaurant aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras on November 30, 2024.
Carnival Mardi Gras Passenger Injured After Chair Allegedly Breaks Without Warning in Onboard Restaurant
According to the complaint, Miles was a paying passenger on the Carnival Mardi Gras when he attempted to sit at his table in the popular Italian-themed restaurant Cucina del Capitano. As he sat down, the chair allegedly gave way without warning, with multiple legs snapping and causing him to fall to the floor. The impact resulted in significant injuries to his body and extremities, including long-term pain, disability, and the need for medical treatment.
The lawsuit claims that the chair was unsafe and could not support the weight of a typical cruise passenger. Miles asserts that Carnival failed to properly maintain, inspect, or replace the furniture despite its obligation to provide safe seating within its venues.
Carnival Accused of Providing Faulty Furniture and Failing to Enforce Inspection Policies Across Its Fleet
The lawsuit highlights that Carnival has faced multiple lawsuits in the past involving collapsing chairs aboard its vessels, indicating alleged prior knowledge of the hazard. Cases cited in the complaint include:
- Adams v. Carnival Corp. (2008 – Carnival Sensation)
- Walter v. Carnival Corp. (2009 – Carnival Legend)
- Tesoriero v. Carnival Corp. (2016 – Carnival Splendor)
- Weber v. Carnival Corp. (2020 – Carnival Legend)
- Brown v. Carnival Corp. (2017 – Carnival Liberty)
- Pitts v. Carnival Corp. (2023 – Carnival Breeze, Limelight Lounge)
- Irons v. Carnival Corp. (2023 – Carnival Vista, Horizons Restaurant)
These earlier incidents are presented as evidence that Carnival was aware, or should have been aware, of the risks posed by deteriorating or defective chairs and failed to implement effective corrective measures to prevent further accidents.
Miles contends that Carnival’s own internal policies require periodic inspections of all onboard furniture and that these policies were ignored or inadequately enforced. Had reasonable inspections been conducted, the defective chair would have been identified and removed from use prior to his injury.
Complaint Alleges Dangerous Restaurant Seating and Failure to Warn About Known Chair Defects on Mardi Gras
Miles further alleges that Carnival failed to provide adequate warnings about the chair’s weight limits, age, or known defects. The lawsuit states that no signage or verbal warning was given to alert passengers of any potential risk, and that Carnival failed to notify guests of previous similar incidents involving collapsing chairs in similar onboard settings.
In addition to general negligence and failure to maintain, the complaint includes a separate count for negligent failure to warn and another under the legal doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, which applies when an injury occurs in a manner that ordinarily would not happen without negligence. Miles argues that simply sitting in a restaurant chair should not result in a collapse and that Carnival had exclusive control over the furniture.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Lasting Injuries, Pain, and the Lost Value of His Cruise Due to Carnival’s Alleged Negligence
Miles seeks compensatory damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, and reduced earning capacity. He also claims damages for the loss of enjoyment of his vacation and related travel costs, asserting that his cruise was irreparably disrupted by the incident. The injuries are described as permanent or continuing in nature, with future medical treatment and suffering anticipated.
The complaint includes four counts: general negligence, negligent failure to maintain, negligent failure to warn, and negligence under res ipsa loquitur. Each count alleges that Carnival breached its non-delegable duty to provide reasonably safe conditions and failed to meet the standard of care expected of a cruise operator.
Hurt by a Collapsing Chair or Unsafe Furniture Aboard a Cruise Ship? Know Your Legal Rights
Cruise lines like Carnival have a duty under maritime law to ensure the safety of the furniture and facilities they provide to paying passengers. If you or a loved one were injured due to a collapsing chair, unsafe seating, or poorly maintained onboard furniture, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A maritime injury attorney can help you pursue your rights and explore your legal options.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship personal injury lawyer.
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.
