New York Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Trip and Fall on Miniature Golf Course Aboard Liberty of the Seas
Marianne Geoghan, a resident of the State of New York, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20094-CMA, alleges that Geoghan suffered serious and permanent physical injuries after tripping over a hidden hazard while playing miniature golf on the Liberty of the Seas on December 23, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Liberty of the Seas Miniature Golf Course Due to Protruding Barrier and Lack of Visual Cues
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Geoghan was a fare paying passenger lawfully aboard the vessel. While navigating the ship’s miniature golf course, known as Liberty Dunes, she tripped and fell near the 8th hole. The lawsuit alleges that a raised and protruding barrier caused the fall. Geoghan asserts that the barrier was unseen and not obvious because it was painted the exact same color as the surrounding floor of the course. Additionally, the plaintiff claims the entire golf course was elevated significantly off the walking deck of the ship without any railing to protect passengers from falling off the raised platform.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Violating International Safety Standards and Failing to Maintain Walkways on Liberty Dunes
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition. Geoghan’s legal team argues that the cruise line was aware of the hazard due to the high traffic nature of the Liberty Dunes area and prior similar incidents. Furthermore, the complaint claims that Royal Caribbean violated specific ASTM International standards regarding walkway safety. Specifically, the plaintiff cites standards requiring that changes in levels greater than a half inch be beveled with a slope and that visual cues like contrasting paint be used to improve safety during walkway transitions. The barrier in question was allegedly much higher than a half inch and lacked any color contrast to alert passengers of its presence.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Warn of Hidden Hazards on Royal Caribbean Vessel
The legal action brings three specific counts of negligence against Royal Caribbean: negligent maintenance, negligent failure to correct, and negligent failure to warn of a hazard. Geoghan alleges that the cruise line breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to conduct frequent inspections that would have detected the hazardous barrier. The complaint further suggests that Royal Caribbean failed to implement adequate policies to ensure the walkway was safe and failed to train its crew members to identify and remedy tripping hazards. By failing to use contrasting paint, signage, or safety railings, the cruise line allegedly left passengers vulnerable to foreseeable accidents in an area they were encouraged to visit.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Hip Injuries and Medical Expenses Following Shipboard Accident
As a direct result of the trip and fall, Geoghan suffered a femoral neck fracture of her right hip along with other injuries to her body and extremities. The lawsuit states that these injuries have resulted in significant pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and a permanent disability that hinders her ability to lead a normal life. In addition to physical suffering, the plaintiff has incurred substantial medical and hospital expenses and is expected to require ongoing healthcare in the future. Geoghan is seeking compensatory damages for these permanent injuries as well as the costs associated with the legal action.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured on a Vessel Miniature Golf Course or Deck
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to hidden tripping hazards, poorly marked elevation changes, or lack of safety railings may be entitled to financial compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a non-delegable duty to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and must provide adequate warnings for any dangers that are not open and obvious. If you or a loved one experienced a similar accident while participating in shipboard activities, our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys is available to help you evaluate your claim.
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.
