Puerto Rico Passenger Sues Royal Caribbean After Chair Collapse Injury on Utopia of the Seas
Yamil Ureña, a resident of Puerto Rico, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24142, alleges that Ureña suffered serious cervical spine and ligament injuries after a defective chair collapsed while he was seated aboard the Utopia of the Seas on August 12, 2024.
Passenger Alleges Promenade Chair Backrest Suddenly Collapsed and Struck Him in the Neck
According to the complaint, Ureña was seated in a chair on the Promenade of the Utopia of the Seas when the backrest suddenly gave way as he attempted to stand. The collapse allegedly caused the chair to strike him forcefully in the neck and head.
The lawsuit claims that the chair was defective in its design, manufacturing, and maintenance, and that Royal Caribbean failed to inspect or remove unsafe furniture before allowing passengers to use it. Ureña asserts that the collapse directly caused his injuries, including cervical spine damage, ligament laxity, and connective tissue injury.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Warn
The complaint alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of care by providing defective furniture for passenger use, failing to inspect and maintain chairs in high-traffic areas, and ignoring warning signs of instability.
Ureña claims that Royal Caribbean either knew or should have known of the unsafe condition through regular inspections, prior complaints, or wear and tear visible to crew. Despite this, the cruise line allegedly failed to warn passengers, replace faulty chairs, or adopt sufficient maintenance policies.
Complaint Brings Two Negligence Counts Against Royal Caribbean
Ureña’s lawsuit asserts two negligence counts:
- Negligent failure to warn, for not alerting passengers to the danger posed by the unstable chair.
- General negligence, for failing to inspect, repair, and safely furnish the Promenade with chairs suitable for passenger use, as well as failing to train and supervise crew responsible for safety.
The complaint highlights Royal Caribbean’s centralized safety department in Miami, which oversees shipboard safety operations, alleging that it failed to ensure adequate oversight of passenger furnishings aboard the Utopia of the Seas.
Legal Background: Furniture Safety and Maintenance in Maritime Passenger Injury Cases
Cruise lines have a duty under maritime law to provide reasonably safe conditions for passengers, which includes ensuring that furniture, fixtures, and equipment are stable and properly maintained. Cases involving collapsing chairs or loungers typically focus on whether the cruise line conducted reasonable inspections and whether the defect was hidden or obvious.
If furniture shows instability, excessive wear, or poor design, courts may examine whether the cruise line should have repaired or removed it before allowing passenger use. Plaintiffs often argue that high-traffic public spaces require more frequent inspection and maintenance. Cruise lines may counter that sudden collapses were unforeseeable or that they met reasonable inspection standards.
These cases show how ordinary items like chairs can become sources of liability when cruise lines fail to ensure that furnishings provided to passengers are safe.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Cervical Spine and Ligament Injuries
Ureña alleges that the chair collapse caused permanent injuries, including cervical spine damage, ligament laxity, and connective tissue injury, as well as mental anguish and emotional distress. He seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and the lost value of his disrupted vacation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer if You Were Hurt Due to Unsafe Furniture Aboard a Vessel
Passengers injured by collapsing chairs, loungers, or other unsafe furnishings aboard cruise ships may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines are required to ensure furniture provided for passenger use is properly designed, maintained, and inspected. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to collapsing furniture on a cruise ship, you may have legal remedies available.
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.
