New York Passenger Sues Royal Caribbean After Bar Stool Collapses on Symphony of the Seas
Jennifer Flamm, a resident of New York, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The federal complaint alleges that Flamm suffered catastrophic and life-altering injuries after a defective bar stool suddenly dislodged and collapsed beneath her while she was seated at an onboard venue aboard the Symphony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean Passenger Injured at Rising Tide Bar on Symphony of the Seas Following Sudden Chair Failure
According to court filings, the incident occurred on August 17, 2025, while the cruise ship was in service and Flamm was aboard as a paying guest. She was seated on a bar stool at the Rising Tide Bar, a multi-deck moving elevator venue that transitions between Deck 5 and Deck 8. At the time of the collapse, the platform was stationary on Deck 5.
While Flamm was sitting on the stool to order a beverage, the top portion of the seat unexpectedly separated from the structural post connecting it to the base. The structural failure caused Flamm to fall backward onto the hard deck floor and strike her head violently. The lawsuit points out that the seating equipment was under the exclusive possession, control, and management of Royal Caribbean, yet it had not been properly inspected or maintained to support the foreseeable weight of onboard guests.
Federal Lawsuit Claims Royal Caribbean Had Notice of Dangerous Seating and Propensity of Onboard Chairs to Break
The complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean possessed actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition because similar seating failures had previously occurred across its fleet. Flamm’s legal counsel highlights a recurring pattern of structural chair breakdowns aboard Royal Caribbean vessels, citing multiple federal cases filed in the Southern District of Florida involving passengers injured by breaking or tipping chairs.
These referenced prior lawsuits include Sabi v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., where a lounge chair collapsed on Adventure of the Seas; Keaton v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., involving a broken chair on Oasis of the Seas; Hodges v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., involving a chair failure on Harmony of the Seas; Martin-Viana v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., concerning a tipping chair on Freedom of the Seas; Olinger v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., involving a broken chair on Grandeur of the Seas; and Malter v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., regarding a seat collapse on Serenade of the Seas. Flamm argues these prior incidents put the cruise operator on clear notice regarding the safety hazards posed by uninspected and poorly maintained furniture.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance, Failure to Warn, and Unsafe Onboard Furniture Conditions
Flamm brings claims for direct negligence, specifically citing counts of failure to maintain and negligent failure to warn. The lawsuit contends that Royal Caribbean breached its legal duty to exercise reasonable care for passenger safety under maritime law by failing to establish, implement, and enforce routine testing, inspection, and replacement protocols for its venue seating.
Furthermore, the lawsuit states that the structural defect was hidden and not open or obvious to an ordinary passenger. Flamm had no visual or physical indication that the bar stool was unstable or prone to breaking. Royal Caribbean provided no warning signs, cautionary advisories, or verbal notices regarding the potential dangers of the seating at the Rising Tide Bar, leaving passengers completely unaware of the latent structural hazard.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Multi-Level Cervical Fusion Surgery, Lost Wages, and Permanent Disability
The injury impact described in the complaint is severe. As a direct result of the hard fall and head impact, Flamm sustained critical injuries to her body and extremities that required invasive medical intervention, including a multi-level cervical fusion spinal surgery.
The lawsuit seeks recovery for past and future physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent physical disability, disfigurement, lost enjoyment of life, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Flamm is also seeking compensation for past medical expenses and ongoing future medical treatment necessitated by her permanent spinal injuries.
Contact a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Injured Onboard
Cruise passengers who suffer harm due to defective venue furniture, broken chairs, or unmaintained ship facilities may be entitled to substantial compensation under federal maritime law. Maritime vessel operators like Royal Caribbean have an affirmative duty to regularly inspect their ships, repair unsafe conditions, and protect guests from preventable hazards. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury while traveling on a cruise ship, speak with an experienced maritime attorney to evaluate your claim and safeguard your rights.Contact us now
to speak with a 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.
