Ohio Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slot Machine Door Falls on Her Legs Aboard Carnival Sunshine
Tiffane Williams, a 46-year-old resident of Cleveland, Ohio, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24304-RAR, alleges that Williams sustained serious spinal injuries aboard the Carnival Sunshine when an unsecured slot machine door unexpectedly fell on her lower extremities while she was seated in the ship’s casino.
Cruise Passenger Injured After Heavy Slot Machine Door Falls in Casino on Carnival Sunshine
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on the evening of September 25, 2024, while Williams was playing a slot machine on the fifth-floor casino of the Carnival Sunshine. A casino host named “Pamela” was standing next to her when, without warning, the bottom door of the machine—allegedly weighing between 75 and 100 pounds—swung open and landed on Williams’ legs.
Williams asserts that the door was not locked and that the machine posed an unreasonably dangerous condition that Carnival either created or failed to correct. She reported her injury onboard and has since undergone extensive medical treatment for a serious back injury, including MRIs, epidural injections, physical therapy, and pain management. She is now scheduled for a laminectomy surgery at the L5-S1 level due to a herniated disc attributed directly to the casino accident.
Carnival Accused of Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Inspect Casino Slot Machines
The lawsuit brings two counts against Carnival: general negligence and negligent failure to warn. In Count I, Williams alleges that Carnival failed to conduct reasonable inspections of casino equipment, failed to maintain its gaming areas in a safe condition, and failed to properly secure a dangerously heavy machine component that was accessible to passengers.
The complaint argues that the cruise line breached its duty of care by failing to detect and remedy a mechanical hazard in a high-traffic guest area and permitted guests to use faulty equipment. Williams claims that had the machine been routinely inspected or taken out of service when identified as defective, the injury could have been avoided.
Plaintiff Alleges Carnival Failed to Warn Passengers of Hidden Slot Machine Hazard
In Count II, Williams contends that Carnival not only failed to inspect or repair the defective machine but also failed to post warnings or block off the area to prevent use of the dangerous equipment. The lawsuit describes this as a hidden condition that Carnival knew or should have known about and failed to disclose, despite being on constructive or actual notice.
The complaint cites past cases against other cruise lines involving failure to maintain safe premises, using those as comparative examples of cruise line liability where known or reasonably foreseeable hazards were not addressed before injuring passengers.
Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Severe Spinal Injury, Surgery, Lost Wages, and Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Williams alleges ongoing severe pain, physical disability, loss of mobility, emotional distress, and other long-term damages resulting from the incident. The complaint seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, including medical expenses, lost wages, future diminished earning capacity, and the cost of upcoming spinal surgery. She also requests a jury trial on all triable issues.
Contact a Cruise Ship Casino Injury Lawyer If You Were Hurt Due to Unsafe Onboard Equipment
Cruise lines must ensure that all onboard equipment, including casino slot machines, is regularly inspected and safely maintained to prevent passenger injury. If you or someone you know has been injured due to unsafe or defective shipboard equipment—especially in casino or entertainment areas—you may have a valid claim under maritime law.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury 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.
