New York Woman Sues MSC Cruises After Slip and Fall Near Buffet on MSC Divina
Suzanne Lederman, a resident of New York, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 0:26-cv-60113, alleges that Lederman sustained severe injuries, including a fractured sacrum, after slipping on a foreign substance while walking near the buffet area aboard the MSC Divina on November 30, 2024.
Passenger Alleges Hazardous Conditions Near Buffet Entrance Caused Serious Injuries
According to the lawsuit, the incident took place as Lederman was leaving the buffet area on Deck 14 of the vessel. The complaint describes this location as a high-traffic zone situated near the ship’s pools and the AquaPark water attraction. The filing claims that water from these aquatic amenities is routinely tracked into the buffet area, making the flooring prone to becoming wet and slippery. Lederman alleges that she slipped on a foreign, wet, or transitory substance that was present on the walking surface. She contends that the substance was not visually conspicuous and did not contrast with the flooring material, making it difficult for reasonable passengers to detect the hazard.
Complaint Cites Multiple Prior Slip and Fall Lawsuits Against MSC Cruises Fleetwide
A significant portion of the complaint is dedicated to establishing that MSC Cruises had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous conditions aboard the MSC Divina and its other vessels. The plaintiff’s legal team lists fifteen specific prior lawsuits filed against the cruise line in the Southern District of Florida involving similar slip and fall incidents near buffet areas or pool decks. These cited cases include incidents aboard the MSC Magnifica, MSC Seascape, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seashore, and MSC Seaside between 2019 and 2024. By referencing these past legal actions, the lawsuit argues that the cruise line was well aware of the propensity for slips and falls on the slippery flooring materials used in these high-traffic areas but failed to take adequate preventative measures to protect passengers.
Lawsuit Claims Inadequate Warning Signage and Failure to Remediate Wet Flooring
The lawsuit accuses MSC Cruises of negligence for failing to properly warn passengers of the hazard despite allegedly knowing it existed. The complaint asserts that prior to the fall, crew members had discovered the wet substance and placed a caution sign in the area. However, Lederman alleges that the sign was not placed in the immediate vicinity of the spill and was obscured from view by the heavy flow of other passengers in the buffet. The filing claims that crew members failed to clean and dry the floor before the incident occurred and only moved the sign closer to the hazard after Lederman had already fallen. The plaintiff argues that the cruise line breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to cordon off the area or effectively maintain the flooring in a safe condition.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Fractured Sacrum and Long-Term Medical Care
Lederman is pursuing claims for negligent maintenance, negligent failure to warn, and general negligence against the cruise line. The lawsuit states that as a direct result of the fall, she suffered a fracture to her sacrum, along with other injuries to her body and extremities. The complaint alleges that these injuries have resulted in physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and a loss of the ability to lead a normal life. Lederman seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, loss of income, and loss of future earning capacity. The filing contends that her injuries are permanent and that she will continue to incur health care costs related to the incident in the future.
Contact a Cruise Ship Buffet Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Vessel
Cruise lines have a responsibility to maintain safe walking surfaces for their passengers, particularly in areas known to be wet or slippery such as buffets and pool decks. If a cruise line fails to clean up spills, provide adequate warnings, or utilize non-slip flooring, they may be held liable for resulting injuries. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury due to a slip and fall accident on a cruise ship, you should speak with a qualified maritime attorney to discuss your potential claims. Our team is dedicated to holding cruise lines accountable for negligence and helping injured passengers recover the compensation they deserve.
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.
