New Hampshire Woman Sues Norwegian Cruise Line After Tripping on Raised Rubber Flooring Aboard Cruise Ship Star
Betsy Gagne, a resident of New Hampshire, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., doing business as Norwegian Cruise Lines, Inc., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23554-CMA, alleges that Gagne suffered severe and permanent injuries after encountering an unmarked and dangerous hazard while walking through the vessel’s casino area. The action seeks damages in excess of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs, based on maritime jurisdiction and diversity of citizenship.
Cruise Passenger Injured Aboard Cruise Ship Star Due to Raised Rubber Floor Obstruction with No Warnings
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on or about March 15, 2026, while Gagne was traveling as a fare-paying passenger aboard the cruise ship Star. The Plaintiff was walking back to her stateroom and chose to cut through the ship’s casino to reach the nearest elevators. As she rounded a corner within the casino, she unexpectedly encountered a raised patch of rubber flooring that was completely uneven with the surrounding carpet. The complaint states that the specific purpose of this rubber patch, which measured approximately three feet square and stood roughly one to two inches in height, was unknown to Gagne. Because she had never walked through this specific area before and there were no warning signs alerting passengers to the structural variance, Gagne tripped over the unmarked obstruction and fell heavily onto the deck.
Norwegian Cruise Line Accused of Failing to Maintain Safe Walkways and Warn Passengers of Floor Hazards
The lawsuit alleges that Norwegian Cruise Line owed its passengers a strict duty of reasonable care under the circumstances, which includes maintaining all passenger walkways in a reasonably safe condition and keeping the decks free from dangerous obstructions. Gagne contends that the cruise line breached this duty by failing to properly monitor and secure the walking surface. The complaint asserts that the dangerous condition existed for a sufficient length of time for the cruise line to have actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard. Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights that numerous shipboard employees, including cleaners, bar staff, and casino personnel, routinely worked in the immediate area and should have observed the irregular flooring during their ordinary duties. Despite this awareness, the cruise line failed to place caution tape, erect warning signs, or provide verbal notices to passengers navigating the corner.
Complaint Alleges Dangerous Casino Walkway Design and Failure to Correct Uneven Flooring on Cruise Ship Star
In addition to general negligence, the plaintiff alleges that the cruise line failed to account for passenger safety when allowing an uneven transition between different flooring materials in a high-traffic area. The complaint argues that the hazard was neither open nor obvious to a reasonable person using their ordinary senses, particularly since the raised rubber material was located immediately around a corner where passengers could not anticipate a sudden change in floor height. Gagne asserts that she was walking carefully and with due care for her own safety at all times, but the lack of anti-slip transitions, visible markers, or structural corrections made the fall entirely unavoidable.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Left Shoulder Fracture, Medical Expenses, and Loss of Cruise Value
Gagne brings two specific counts against the defendant: Count I for Negligence and Count II for Negligent Failure to Warn. The lawsuit states that as a direct result of the cruise line’s negligence, Gagne was seriously injured in and about her body and extremities. Specifically, she suffered a closed comminuted fracture of the humeral head of her left shoulder. The complaint alleges that these personal injuries are permanent and continuing in nature, meaning she will continue to suffer physical limitations and impairments into the future. Gagne is seeking compensation for physical pain, mental and emotional distress, ongoing medical expenses, physical handicap, lost earnings, diminished future earning capacity, and the complete loss of the enjoyment and value of her cruise vacation. A jury trial has been demanded.
Contact a Cruise Ship Casino Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Vessel Due to Hidden Trip Hazards
Cruise passengers who suffer serious injuries due to uneven flooring, hidden trip hazards, or a lack of warning signs in shipboard casinos and walkways may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise companies have a clear legal obligation to maintain all passenger areas in a reasonably safe condition and to warn travelers of any non-obvious dangers that could cause a fall. If you or a loved one experienced a similar cruise ship slip and fall accident, our dedicated maritime legal team is here to help you evaluate your claim.
Contact us now to speak with an experienced cruise ship slip and fall attorney.
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.
