Texas Resident Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Tripping Over Broken Furniture on Carnival Liberty
Latonya Davis, a citizen and resident of 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. 1:25-cv-25857-DPG, alleges that Davis suffered severe and permanent injuries after tripping over a piece of broken furniture while walking through the buffet area of the Lido deck aboard the Carnival Liberty on December 28, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Carnival Liberty Lido Deck Due to Hazardous Broken Furniture in Buffet Area
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Davis was a paying passenger navigating a high traffic area where the cruise line reasonably expected passengers to be. While walking through the buffet, she encountered a piece of broken furniture that had been left in the walkway. The lawsuit asserts that Carnival had a duty to provide reasonable care and maintain its walkways in a safe condition. However, the cruise line allegedly failed to monitor the area effectively or remove the tripping hazard. Davis claims she was given no verbal or written warnings regarding the damaged furniture and that the presence of the hazard constituted a breach of the cruise line’s maritime law obligations.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Warn and Maintain Safe Walkways Despite Notice of Prior Broken Chair Incidents
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival Corporation had actual or constructive knowledge that broken furniture posed a foreseeable risk to passengers. To support this claim, the plaintiff’s legal team cites a significant history of similar accidents occurring across the Carnival fleet. The complaint identifies at least seven prior incidents where passengers were injured by broken chairs or furniture on various vessels, including the Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Vista, and Carnival Freedom. These incidents, dating back to 2022, are presented as evidence that the cruise line was aware of the recurring danger but failed to implement corrective measures such as routine maintenance or more frequent inspections to ensure furniture in passenger areas remained in a safe condition.
Lawsuit Alleges Carnival Orchestrated Concealment of Prior Similar Accidents Through Confidential Settlements
A notable aspect of the complaint is the allegation that Carnival Corporation actively works to shield the public from learning about the frequency of these types of accidents. The plaintiff asserts that because the cruise line regularly requires confidentiality as part of its settlement agreements, it is difficult for passengers to determine the full extent of prior similar incidents without engaging in litigation discovery. Despite this alleged concealment, the lawsuit maintains that industry standards and internal policies require the placement of caution signs and the monitoring of walkways to prevent trip and fall hazards. The complaint argues that Carnival either ignored these standards or failed to enforce adequate policies to ensure that verbal warnings and signage were used near the damaged furniture.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries and Loss of Cruise Value Following Carnival Liberty Fall
Davis brings four counts of negligence against Carnival: negligent failure to warn, negligent maintenance, general negligence, and vicarious liability for the negligence of the crewmembers responsible for the Lido deck. She claims that as a direct result of the cruise line’s failure to maintain a safe environment, she suffered physical pain, mental anguish, and a loss of enjoyment of life. The lawsuit states that her injuries are permanent and continuing in nature, leading to medical expenses, lost wages, and a permanent impairment of her working ability. Furthermore, she seeks compensation for the lost value of her vacation and transportation costs, claiming that the negligence of the ship’s crew and management entirely disrupted her cruise experience.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured by Hazardous Conditions Onboard
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to broken furniture, poorly maintained walkways, or a lack of adequate warning signs may be entitled to recover damages under maritime law. Cruise companies like Carnival Corporation have a non-delegable duty to ensure that all areas of the ship, particularly high traffic zones like the Lido deck and buffet areas, are free from foreseeable tripping hazards. If you or a loved one experienced a similar accident while on a vacation, it is important to understand your rights and the specific legal requirements for filing a claim against a major cruise line. Contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today to explore your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
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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.
