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Kentucky Woman Sues Carnival in Miami Federal Court After Slip-and-Fall on Wet Lido Deck
Case Summary: Jennifer Reynolds v. Carnival Corporation
Case No.: 1:25-cv-21574-WPD
Filed: April 4, 2025
Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Plaintiff: Jennifer Reynolds, resident of Kentucky
Defendant: Carnival Corporation, d/b/a Carnival Cruise Line, Inc. (Panama corporation, principal place of business: Miami, FL)
Incident Date: May 3, 2024
Vessel Involved: Carnival Sunshine
Lawsuit Against Carnival Cruise Line Over Lido Deck Injury on Carnival Sunshine
- Plaintiff alleges she slipped on a large puddle of water near Guy’s Burgers on the Lido Deck.
- She contends that greasy residue and pool water created an unreasonably slippery surface.
- Carnival allegedly knew or should have known of the hazard, yet failed to warn or maintain safe conditions.
Count I – Negligence
- Carnival allegedly breached its duty of reasonable care by:
- Failing to maintain a dry and safe Lido Deck.
- Not warning passengers of the wet, slippery condition.
- Using flooring that was unreasonably slippery when wet.
- Plaintiff claims she fell approximately six feet from Guy’s Burgers and within eight feet of a pool—an area with high foot traffic and water exposure.
Count II – Negligent Design and Construction
- Carnival is accused of participating in the design and approval of the Lido Deck flooring via in-house engineers and shipyard contractors.
- The complaint alleges the deck material lacks sufficient slip resistance, posing a known danger when wet.
- Plaintiff asserts Carnival had the ability and duty to reject unsafe flooring during ship construction or implement a safer retrofit.
Count III – Negligent Failure to Warn
- Carnival allegedly failed to warn passengers of a non-obvious slippery condition caused by a mix of water and food grease residue.
- The puddle was not cordoned off, and no signage alerted guests to potential danger.
Why This Case Stands Out:
- The lawsuit references “over two dozen” prior slip-and-fall lawsuits involving Carnival’s Lido Decks—suggesting a pattern of known risk.
- It underscores a potential industry-wide issue in the cruise sector involving deck surface safety and design standards.
- The case is filed under admiralty jurisdiction and general maritime law, which governs passenger injury claims at sea.
What Plaintiffs Must Prove:
- That Carnival knew or should have known about the unsafe condition.
- That the hazard was not “open and obvious.”
- That Carnival’s negligence caused the injuries suffered.
⚠️ Broader Implications for Cruise Lines and Passengers
For Cruise Passengers:
- Always report any unsafe conditions or injuries.
- Slips and falls on wet decks are not always legally “open and obvious”—especially when hidden by water clarity or greasy residues.
For Cruise Operators:
- Proactive deck design choices and regular hazard monitoring are essential.
- Courts increasingly scrutinize repeat incident patterns—even if spread across different ships in a fleet.
📞 Call Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a slip-and-fall aboard a cruise ship in a wet or unsafe deck area, contact a maritime injury attorney immediately.
Federal maritime law grants passengers specific rights—and time limits to act are strict.