Texas Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slip and Fall on Wet Surface Near Odyssey Lounge Aboard Carnival Legend
Jenell Weekes, a 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, Miami Division. The federal complaint alleges that Weekes suffered severe and permanent physical injuries, including a fractured knee and lower back injuries, after slipping and falling on an unreasonably wet, slippery, and hazardous floor on Deck 3 of the Carnival Legend.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Deck 3 of Carnival Legend Near Odyssey Lounge After Slipping on Concealed Wet Floor
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on or about August 5, 2025, while Weekes was a paying passenger aboard the Carnival Legend. Weekes had just exited a restroom on Deck 3 near the Odyssey Lounge when she walked onto an excessively slippery floor surface contaminated with an unreasonably wet, greasy, or dirty foreign substance. The lawsuit highlights that the flooring surface itself, composed of polished marble, granite, or similar highly reflective material, was slippery even when dry and easily concealed liquid spills. Because of the floor coloring, material design, shine, and polished finish, the dangerous liquid condition was not open or obvious to Weekes, leaving her unable to discern whether the surface was wet or dry before stepping onto it.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Warn Passengers and Neglect of Internal HESS Safety Standards
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival breached its duty to provide passengers with a reasonably safe environment by failing to warn of the slippery flooring conditions. Carnival allegedly failed to post portable wet floor caution signs, failed to verbally alert passengers, failed to utilize anti-slip mats, and failed to block off the hazardous walkway area on Deck 3. The complaint notes that Carnival has established specific internal rules, known as Health, Environmental, Safety, and Security (HESS) policies and procedures, that govern floor material selection, minimum slip-resistance coefficients, and the proper response to transitory liquid spills. Despite crew members standing nearby and actively monitoring the area, as well as live security camera feeds covering the location, no crew members took remedial action or provided warnings before Weekes fell.
Lawsuit Cites Prior Slip and Fall Incidents Across Carnival Fleet as Evidence of Notice
To demonstrate that Carnival had actual or constructive notice of the danger, the legal complaint cites a pattern of prior slip and fall lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Florida involving similar flooring hazards on Carnival ships. The complaint refers to earlier federal cases, including Thomas v. Carnival Corp. (a slip and fall on a wet surface aboard the Carnival Legend), Wright v. Carnival Corp. (a fall on polished granite or marble near a theater entrance on the Carnival Pride), Ragsdale v. Carnival Corp. (an incident on the Carnival Spirit), Grady v. Carnival Corp. (a fall on shiny marble flooring on the Carnival Magic), and Barksdale-Starkes v. Carnival Corp. (a slip and fall near the Spotlight Lounge entrance on the Carnival Magic). Weekes argues these prior cases demonstrate that Carnival knew polished stone and marble flooring surfaces across its fleet become unreasonably hazardous when contaminated by liquids, yet failed to modify its cleaning protocols or floor surface selections.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Fractured Knee, Back Injuries, Medical Bills, and Lost Vacation Value
Weekes asserts three main counts against Carnival Corporation: negligent failure to warn, negligent maintenance, and general negligence. She claims that as a direct result of Carnival’s failure to properly inspect, clean, and maintain Deck 3, she sustained severe physical injuries, including a fractured knee and lower back trauma. The complaint notes that Weekes suffered physical pain, mental anguish, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, physical disfigurement, and permanent disability. Additionally, Weekes is seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses, transportation costs, and the lost value of her cruise vacation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Injury Attorney Today if You Were Hurt Onboard
Cruise lines owe passengers a non-delegable legal duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances and to maintain public deck areas in a reasonably safe condition. When cruise lines fail to monitor heavy-foot-traffic areas, neglect internal safety policies, or fail to warn passengers about hidden liquid hazards on polished flooring, injured victims may seek financial compensation under general maritime law. If you or a family member suffered a severe injury in a slip and fall accident aboard a cruise ship, speak with an experienced maritime personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights and available remedies.
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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.
