Texas Resident Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Elevator Doors Abruptly Slam Shut Onboard Carnival Liberty
Falanda Doyle, a resident of Anna, Texas, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20865-CMA, alleges that Doyle suffered severe and permanent injuries after an elevator door malfunctioned and pinned her against the frame while she was a passenger onboard the Carnival Liberty on April 9, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Carnival Liberty Deck 7 Elevator Due to Abrupt Door Malfunction and Lack of Maintenance
According to the complaint, the incident occurred as Doyle was attempting to exit an elevator on Deck 5 after boarding from the Deck 7 cabin area. While exiting, the right side elevator door allegedly slammed shut with excessive force, pinning Doyle against the left elevator frame for approximately 15 to 20 seconds. During this time, the plaintiff struggled to free herself while her family members inside the elevator frantically pressed the door open button and attempted to pry the doors apart. The lawsuit asserts that while Doyle noticed the doors closed unusually fast when she first entered, she did not initially perceive the elevator as a threat. The complaint alleges that Carnival failed to provide any warnings, visual cues, or audio alerts regarding the hazardous state of the elevator and failed to block off the area despite the elevator being in a state of disrepair.
Carnival Corporation Accused of Having Knowledge of Ongoing Elevator Malfunctions and Failing to Take Corrective Action
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition. Following the incident, a security officer escorted Doyle back to the elevator and witnessed the door malfunction firsthand. When the officer contacted maintenance, they reportedly claimed the elevator had already been repaired, a statement the officer contradicted. Furthermore, the complaint suggests a pattern of neglect, noting that other passengers had reported similar issues with the same elevator to security and guest services. To establish a history of notice, the plaintiff’s legal team cites several prior incidents involving elevator malfunctions across the Carnival fleet, including cases such as Fields v. Carnival Corporation and various documented reports of elevators jerking, dropping floors unexpectedly, or suffering from uncontrolled descents on vessels like the Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Imagination.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Training of Shipboard Crew and Failure to Inspect Faulty Elevator Systems
Doyle alleges that Carnival failed to reasonably train its shipboard crew members to inspect, maintain, and warn passengers about hazardous elevator systems. The complaint argues that Carnival’s internal safety protocols and SMS protocols require regular inspections and the use of checklists to ensure elevators operate safely. However, the plaintiff contends these procedures were not properly implemented. The lawsuit details several specific failures in training, including the failure to teach crew how to frequently test elevator door sensors and the failure to instruct personnel on how to properly cordon off or take malfunctioning elevators out of service. This lack of oversight allegedly allowed the Deck 7 elevator to remain operational despite suffering from a condition described as getting lost in the shaft or misstepping, eventually leading to the plaintiff’s injuries.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Spinal Injuries and Future Medical Expenses Resulting from Cruise Ship Negligence
The lawsuit brings four counts against Carnival: negligent failure to maintain, negligent failure to warn, negligent training of personnel, and negligent design, construction, and selection of materials. Doyle claims that as a direct result of being pinned by the elevator door, she suffered a twisted spine at the L3 vertebra which impacted a surgical rod from a previous procedure. Medical evaluations in Texas later confirmed that the injury caused bowel dysfunction and requires ongoing intervention, including potential surgery or pain management devices. The plaintiff seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, physical impairment, mental anguish, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. The complaint also alleges that Carnival custom designed the vessel and its elevator systems, making the cruise line responsible for the allegedly dangerous and substandard materials used in the Atrium elevator area.
Contact a Cruise Ship Elevator Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt Onboard a Vessel Due to Equipment Failure
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to malfunctioning elevators, slamming doors, or sudden drops may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a non-delegable duty to maintain all common areas of the ship in a reasonably safe condition and to warn guests of any hazards that are not open and obvious. If you or a loved one experienced a similar accident involving shipboard equipment failure or negligent maintenance, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys to discuss your case. We are dedicated to helping victims navigate the complexities of maritime litigation and holding cruise lines accountable for passenger safety.
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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.
