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Florida Passenger Sues Carnival Over Falling Golf Club Injury Aboard Carnival Paradise
The case Jacqueline Viles v. Carnival Corporation (Case No. 1:25-cv-21151-JEM) involves a negligence lawsuit filed by Jacqueline Viles, a resident of Clearwater, Florida, against Carnival Corporation. The lawsuit alleges that Viles suffered severe injuries when she was struck by a golf club thrown from the Deck 14 mini-golf course while sunbathing on the Lido Deck 10 aboard the Carnival Paradise.
Background of the Case
On March 13, 2024, while aboard the Carnival Paradise, Viles was reclining on a lounge chair near the pool on Deck 10 when a golf club fell from Deck 14, striking her face and right shoulder. She immediately experienced bleeding from her lips and chin and severe pain in her collarbone and shoulder.
According to the complaint:
- The golf club was thrown or dropped by unsupervised children playing at the Deck 14 mini-golf course.
- A Carnival security guard witnessed the incident and escorted Viles to the ship’s medical center.
- The mini-golf course lacked proper supervision, leaving passengers at risk of falling objects from above.
- Viles sustained facial injuries, a bruised collarbone, and severe shoulder pain requiring medical treatment both onboard and post-cruise.
Allegations Against Carnival Corporation
The lawsuit accuses Carnival Corporation of negligence in the following ways:
- Failure to Maintain Safe Recreational Areas
- Carnival allegedly allowed unsupervised children to access golf clubs and golf balls on an elevated deck.
- No barriers, netting, or additional safety precautions were in place to prevent objects from falling onto passengers below.
- Failure to Warn Passengers of the Hazard
- Carnival did not post warning signs on Deck 10 alerting passengers to potential falling objects from the mini-golf course above.
- The risk of golf clubs or balls falling from Deck 14 onto lower decks was not obvious to passengers like Viles.
- Negligent Training and Supervision of Crew
- The lawsuit alleges that Carnival failed to assign staff to monitor the mini-golf course.
- Carnival failed to enforce safety protocols preventing children from misusing the golf clubs.
- Prior Incidents of Similar Accidents
- The lawsuit references multiple past lawsuits involving falling objects from Carnival’s mini-golf attractions, including:
- Bailey v. Carnival (Case No. 06-cv-21915) – Passenger struck in the eye by a golf ball hit by a child on a Carnival ship.
- Hillenburg v. Carnival (Case No. 16-cv-22091) – Passenger struck in the head by a golf ball from an elevated mini-golf course.
- Catalana v. Carnival (Case No. 618 F. Supp. 18) – Passenger injured after being hit by a golf ball on a Carnival vessel.
- The lawsuit references multiple past lawsuits involving falling objects from Carnival’s mini-golf attractions, including:
Legal Implications for Cruise Ship Safety
This lawsuit highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding unsupervised recreational areas aboard cruise ships. Key legal questions include:
- Should Carnival be held liable for failing to supervise the mini-golf course?
- Does Carnival’s history of similar accidents establish negligence?
- Should Carnival implement netting, safety railings, or restrictions to prevent objects from falling from elevated decks?
What’s Next?
The case will likely focus on:
- Whether Carnival had prior knowledge of the hazard and failed to take corrective action.
- If the failure to warn passengers directly contributed to Viles’ injuries.
- Whether Carnival’s safety policies meet industry standards.
- Will Carnival argue that Viles assumed the risk of sunbathing on Deck 10, or will this case expose systemic safety failures aboard the Carnival Paradise?