North Carolina Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Suffering Seizure and Neurologic Emergency Aboard Radiance of the Seas
Amber Williams, a resident of North Carolina and a former member of the Air Force, 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 complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22192-EIS, alleges that Williams suffered permanent neurological and psychological injuries due to the cruise line’s failure to provide adequate medical care and its decision to prematurely discharge her during a life-threatening seizure event on November 11, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Complex Partial Seizure in Ship Casino and Alleges Inadequate Medical Response
The incident began while Williams was seated at a slot machine in the casino of the Radiance of the Seas. According to the filing, Williams experienced a classic epileptic aura followed by purposeless repetitive motor movements and abnormal vocalizations. Her companion observed her moaning and pressing buttons on a machine without any money inserted before Williams vomited and fell from her chair, striking her head on the hard casino floor. Although shipboard medical personnel arrived and transported her by stretcher, the lawsuit claims the subsequent care was fundamentally flawed. Medical records from the vessel documented a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 10, indicating a significant alteration in consciousness and a serious neurologic state, yet the ship’s physician allegedly failed to recognize the severity of the emergency.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Medical Negligence and Failure to Monitor Patient with Documented Head Trauma
Plaintiff’s legal team asserts that Royal Caribbean’s medical staff committed multiple breaches of the standard of care. Despite the witnessed head trauma and the low Glasgow Coma Scale score, the ship’s medical center did not perform any neuroimaging, as Radiance-class vessels are reportedly not equipped with CT scan capabilities. The complaint alleges that the medical staff incorrectly attributed the episode to alcohol consumption despite the fact that Williams had only consumed two cocktails over a two-hour period with a full meal. Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights a major internal inconsistency in the medical records where Williams was described as both awake and having a severely depressed level of consciousness simultaneously. Instead of arranging an emergent transfer to a shoreside facility or providing continuous clinical monitoring, the medical staff discharged Williams to her cabin while she was still neurologically impaired.
Lawsuit Alleges Grossly Negligent Handling and Incineration of Passenger Property While Victim was Incapacitated
In addition to the medical claims, the lawsuit brings forth a count of conversion and gross negligence regarding the destruction of personal property. While Williams was incapacitated and under the exclusive care of the defendant, crew members took custody of her red tote bag. This bag contained her cellular telephone, wallet, identification, credit cards, and cash. When the plaintiff later inquired about her belongings, she was informed by security personnel that housekeeping staff had placed her bag in a red plastic bag and incinerated it because it had vomit on it. The complaint argues that the cruise line failed to inventory or secure these items, and the deliberate destruction of a passenger’s essential communication and identification devices while they are experiencing a medical crisis constitutes a total disregard for passenger safety and property.
Veteran Diagnosed with Complex PTSD and Permanent Neurologic Deficits Following Royal Caribbean Cruise Incident
Since returning home to North Carolina, Williams has undergone extensive evaluation by specialists at the Veterans Administration. A board-certified neurologist has since diagnosed her with complex partial seizure activity and generalized seizure activity, confirming that the shipboard event was a genuine neurological emergency rather than simple intoxication. The plaintiff continues to suffer from objective neurological deficits including decreased sensation in her extremities, nystagmus, and brain fog. Furthermore, VA mental health professionals have diagnosed Williams with Major Depression and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder directly attributed to the events on the ship. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for past and future medical expenses, permanent cognitive impairment, and the loss of enjoyment of life resulting from strict safety restrictions that now prohibit her from driving or swimming.
Contact a Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today if You Were Denied Proper Care on a Vessel
Passengers who suffer medical emergencies at sea rely entirely on the competence and resources of the shipboard medical staff. When cruise lines fail to implement proper transfer protocols or provide adequate diagnostic equipment like CT scanners, the results can be catastrophic and life-altering. If you or a loved one experienced a lack of proper medical attention or suffered an injury due to the negligence of a cruise line’s medical team, it is essential to seek legal guidance from experts in maritime law. Our team is dedicated to holding cruise lines accountable for failing to meet their duty of reasonable care.
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.
