Pennsylvania Man Sues MSC Cruises After Slipping on Wet Bathroom Floor Aboard MSC Meraviglia
Jamet Abraham, a resident of Pennsylvania, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against MSC Cruises S.A. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24426-JB, alleges that Abraham sustained serious injuries—including a fractured arm requiring surgery—after slipping on a wet floor outside a public restroom near the Marketplace Buffet aboard the MSC Meraviglia on October 11, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Fractured Arm After Fall on Slippery Bathroom Floor Near Marketplace Buffet
According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. while Abraham was aboard the MSC Meraviglia with his wife. After finishing a meal in the Marketplace Buffet on Deck 15, Abraham walked toward a nearby restroom. As he opened the door and stepped inside, he allegedly slipped on a wet, slippery substance that resembled water and fell violently to the ground. The complaint states there were no warning signs posted, and Abraham had no way of knowing about the hazard before entering the area.
After the fall, crew members reportedly arrived and began cleaning the area, indicating they were aware of the dangerous condition. The fall resulted in a displaced humerus fracture that required surgical intervention, as well as other injuries to Abraham’s knee and shoulder.
MSC Accused of Failing to Maintain Safe Conditions in Passenger Bathroom Areas on Meraviglia
The lawsuit alleges that MSC Cruises failed to properly maintain the restroom floor in a safe condition, especially considering the high likelihood that the floor would become wet from routine passenger use. Abraham claims MSC knew or should have known that bathroom floors, particularly in areas adjacent to high-traffic zones like buffets, are prone to becoming dangerously slick if not regularly monitored and cleaned.
The complaint argues that MSC breached its duty to provide passengers with reasonably safe conditions under maritime law and neglected to implement adequate procedures for floor inspections and maintenance. It also notes that the flooring material may have lacked sufficient slip resistance, and that MSC failed to employ anti-slip mats, signs, or other safety measures.
MSC Faced with Prior Slip and Fall Lawsuits Involving Wet Floors on Cruise Ships
In support of its claims, Abraham’s legal team cites over two dozen prior slip and fall cases involving wet flooring aboard various MSC vessels. These include incidents on the MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia, and MSC Divina, where passengers allegedly fell due to slippery surfaces in public areas or near food service zones. Several of these lawsuits involved flooring materials with low coefficients of friction and recurring water accumulation in passenger-accessible areas.
The complaint highlights recent lawsuits such as Barbara Garcia v. MSC, Tracy Shipman v. MSC, Janice Rogers v. MSC, and Francine Lombardo v. MSC, all of which involved passengers slipping on wet and allegedly hazardous floor surfaces. These prior cases are presented as evidence that MSC was on notice of the risk posed by wet and slippery floors but failed to adopt sufficient corrective measures.
Complaint Alleges Failure to Warn, Unsafe Flooring Design, and Negligent Oversight on MSC Meraviglia
Abraham brings three counts of negligence against MSC Cruises: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and general negligence. The lawsuit claims that MSC’s policies and internal safety standards under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) were not followed or properly enforced in this case.
Specifically, the complaint argues that MSC failed to:
- Provide warnings about the slippery nature of the bathroom floor
- Post signage or cordon off hazardous areas
- Maintain appropriate anti-slip flooring materials or floor mats
- Inspect and clean high-traffic areas like restrooms near dining spaces
As a result of the incident, Abraham allegedly suffered long-term physical pain, mental anguish, disability, and impairment of his ability to work. He also seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, and the lost value of his cruise experience.
Injured on a Wet Bathroom Floor While Cruising? Learn Your Rights from a Maritime Injury Lawyer
Wet bathroom floors aboard cruise ships pose a well-known and preventable hazard, particularly in areas near food service or high passenger traffic. Cruise lines such as MSC have a duty under maritime law to ensure that public restrooms and adjacent flooring areas are safe, dry, and appropriately marked with warning signs. If you or a loved one has suffered a slip and fall accident on a cruise ship, especially due to a wet or slippery surface, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
Reach out to our legal team to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall attorney and understand your options under maritime law.
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.
