New York Woman Sues MSC Cruises After Trip and Fall on Loose Drainage Grate Aboard MSC Meraviglia
Zoya Pozdner, a resident of New York, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises S.A. and MSC Cruises (USA) LLC in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 0:26-cv-60612-EA, alleges that Pozdner suffered significant physical injuries, including a fractured ankle, after encountering a hazardous metal drainage grate while walking on the pool deck of the MSC Meraviglia on August 9, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Near MSC Meraviglia Bamboo Bar Due to Unsecured Metal Drainage Grate Hazard
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while the MSC Meraviglia was at sea following its departure from New York. Pozdner was lawfully traversing Deck 15 in the vicinity of the Bamboo Bar, a high-traffic area located near the swimming pool, elevators, and the Marketplace Buffet. While walking through this passenger walkway, she unknowingly came into contact with an unsecured and lifted metal drainage grate. The lawsuit asserts that this lifted fixture created a dangerous trip and slip hazard on the hard flooring of the deck. Pozdner alleges that she fell violently to the deck surface because the walking area was not maintained in a level or safe condition for passengers.
MSC Cruises Accused of Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Secure Dangerous Deck Fixtures
The legal action alleges that MSC Cruises breached its duty of care by failing to maintain the vessel in a reasonably safe condition. The plaintiff contends that the cruise line, through its agents and employees, allowed a raised fixture to exist in a busy, congested area where passengers are frequently expected to walk. The complaint highlights that the metal drainage grate is a fixture typically accessed or raised only by crew members or maintenance staff, leading to the inference that the hazard was created or left in an unsafe state by ship personnel. Pozdner argues that the cruise line failed to perform adequate inspections and neglected to properly fasten the grate, despite having routine maintenance protocols and logs that should have identified the defect.
Lawsuit Claims MSC Failed to Warn Passengers of Known Trip Hazards in High Traffic Pool Areas
In addition to maintenance failures, the lawsuit brings a count of negligent failure to warn against the defendants. Pozdner alleges that MSC Cruises had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazardous condition because the grate was part of the ship’s permanent structure and located in a prominent walkway. Despite this knowledge, the cruise line allegedly failed to provide any signage, barricades, cones, or verbal warnings to alert passengers to the danger. The complaint states that passengers are entitled to rely on the cruise line to maintain designated walkways without the need for heightened vigilance, and that Pozdner had no reason to anticipate or search for an improperly secured grate in a common passenger area.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Fractured Ankle and Permanent Injuries Resulting from MSC Negligence
The complaint seeks compensatory damages for a variety of losses resulting from the fall. Pozdner alleges that the fractured ankle and other bodily injuries sustained in the incident are permanent or continuing in nature. The lawsuit demands judgment for past and future medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost income, and diminished earning capacity. Pozdner asserts that the negligence of MSC Cruises was the direct and proximate cause of her injuries and subsequent financial and emotional distress. The plaintiff has demanded a trial by jury for all issues triable as of right.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured by Hazardous Deck Conditions
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to unsecured fixtures, uneven flooring, or lack of warning signs on a vessel may be entitled to seek compensation under federal maritime law. Ship operators have a clear legal obligation to maintain all passenger areas in a safe condition and to warn of any foreseeable risks that are not open and obvious. If you or a loved one experienced a serious injury while on a cruise ship due to a maintenance failure or hazardous walkway, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys to discuss your case. We are dedicated to helping victims understand their rights and pursue the recovery 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.
