Missouri Woman Sues MSC Cruises After Slip and Fall on Wet Floor Near Marketplace Buffet Aboard MSC Seascape
Peggy Keyes, a resident of Missouri, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises, S.A. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit alleges that Keyes suffered serious and permanent injuries after slipping on an unreasonably slippery and wet floor while walking through Deck 16 of the MSC Seascape on September 10, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Near Marketplace Buffet Due to Slippery Tile Flooring with No Warnings
According to the complaint, the incident occurred as Keyes was navigating Deck 16 in an area near the popular Marketplace buffet. While walking through this high-traffic dining section, she encountered a dangerous condition consisting of a wet floor surface that was unreasonably slippery whether wet or dry. The lawsuit asserts that this hazardous condition was clear and unobservable, making it neither open nor obvious to the passenger as she walked through the venue. Despite the cruise line’s responsibility to manage public dining spaces safely, there were no warning signs, caution indicators, or crew interventions to alert passengers to the invisible hazard. Keyes asserts that MSC Cruises failed to provide a reasonably safe walking surface, leaving her completely unaware of the immediate risk of a slip and fall.
MSC Cruises Accused of Failing to Clean, Maintain, and Correct Known Hazards in Fleet Buffet Areas
The maritime lawsuit alleges that MSC Cruises possessed both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous flooring conditions well before the incident took place. The plaintiff’s legal team points to multiple prior slip and fall incidents occurring on identical or substantially similar tile flooring across the cruise line’s fleet as evidence of notice. The complaint specifically highlights several recent cases where passengers slipped on Deck 16 or near the Marketplace buffet on MSC vessels. These prior incidents include a slip and fall by Debra Bush on the MSC Seascape, Emillio Franco on the sister ship MSC Seaside, and both Florina Gertshtyen and Maria Mattera aboard the MSC Meraviglia. The lawsuit argues that these repetitive accidents should have prompted the cruise line to change its flooring materials or modify its maintenance routines, yet MSC Cruises failed to correct the recurring hazard.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Failure to Inspect and Enforce Safety Policies Aboard the MSC Seascape
In addition to failing to warn passengers, the complaint targets the structural maintenance and operational oversight of the vessel. Keyes alleges that MSC Cruises failed to reasonably clean and maintain the flooring material to ensure it remained free of dangerous slipping hazards. The lawsuit contends that the cruise line failed to adequately, timely, and regularly inspect the buffet perimeter for liquid spills or inherent traction loss. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the cruise line failed to promulgate or enforce adequate safety policies and procedures regarding deck monitoring and cleaning schedules. The plaintiff argues that the cruise line’s knowledge was specifically acquired through its own routine cleaning protocols or that the dangerous puddle existed long enough that staff should have discovered and eliminated it during regular operations.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Total Shoulder Replacement, Neck Injuries, and Lost Cruise Value Due to Negligence
Keyes brings three distinct counts of negligence against MSC Cruises: general negligence, negligent failure to warn, and negligent failure to maintain. She claims the cruise line breached its legal duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to protect its paying passengers. As a direct result of the hard fall onto the deck, Keyes suffered severe physical trauma, including a dislocated and fractured right shoulder that ultimately required an extensive total shoulder replacement surgery, as well as ongoing injuries to her neck. The lawsuit states that her physical limitations and pain are permanent and continuing in nature, leading to significant mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, physical handicap, disfigurement, medical bills, lost wages, and a permanently impaired capacity to work. She is also seeking compensation for the lost value of her vacation, cruise fare, and related transportation expenses.
Contact a Cruise Ship Buffet Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Vessel in Unsafe Conditions
Cruise passengers who suffer severe injuries due to wet floors, slick tiles, or unaddressed spills in cruise dining areas may be entitled to financial compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise operators have an absolute obligation to maintain buffet lines, pool decks, and interior walkways in a reasonably safe condition and to warn travelers when dangerous conditions arise. If you or a loved one experienced a similar slip and fall accident while traveling at sea, reaching out to an experienced maritime attorney can help you safeguard your legal rights. Contact a dedicated legal team today to review your case and evaluate your options for recovery.
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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.
