Louisiana Passenger Files Cruise Tender Boat Injury Lawsuit Against Carnival Corporation After Fall During Reboarding
On April 24, 2025, Louisiana resident Trinnell Griffin filed a personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Griffin alleges she sustained serious injuries after slipping and falling on a wet stairway aboard a tender boat used for reboarding the Carnival Liberty near Grand Cayman on June 13, 2024.
Trinnell Griffin Sues Carnival Corporation for Tender Boat Fall Injury During Grand Cayman Disembarkation from Carnival Liberty
According to the Complaint, Griffin was participating in a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise when the ship anchored offshore to allow passengers to transfer via tender boats to Grand Cayman. Carnival had hired or contracted with a local tender boat company to assist in this operation. While descending the stairs of the tender to return to the ship, Griffin slipped on allegedly wet and slippery steps that lacked adequate warning signage or crew assistance.
Griffin’s right leg became lodged between the stairway and the railing, requiring assistance from a tender employee to be freed. She later sought medical care but declined onboard treatment due to cost concerns, which unfortunately led to a serious infection. Upon returning to Louisiana, Griffin underwent surgery and months of intensive wound care, resulting in ongoing pain, disfigurement, and impairment.
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival breached its nondelegable duty to provide safe embarkation and disembarkation methods for passengers, even when using third-party tenders.
Legal Analysis: Cruise Line’s Nondelegable Duty for Passenger Safety During Tender Transfers Under Maritime Law
Under established maritime law, cruise lines have a nondelegable duty to provide safe methods for passengers to embark and disembark, even when independent contractors or third parties are involved. The Eleventh Circuit’s decision in Vierling v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc. emphasizes that this duty cannot be shifted to another entity, and failure to ensure passenger safety during tender operations results in direct liability for the cruise line.
A Florida cruise ship tender boat injury lawyer reviewing Griffin’s allegations would point out that she does not need to prove that Carnival had specific notice of the hazard. Because Griffin’s claim is premised on the negligence of the third-party tender operators while performing a nondelegable duty, Carnival is automatically liable if negligence is proven.
Furthermore, courts like the Eleventh Circuit have rejected arguments requiring a plaintiff to prove notice where the shipowner’s liability is based on a third party’s negligence in performing a nondelegable duty (Yusko v. NCL (Bahamas), Ltd., 4 F.4th 1164 (11th Cir. 2021)).
Trend and Policy Analysis: Rising Claims Against Cruise Lines for Tender Boat Accidents and Boarding Injuries
The Griffin lawsuit fits into a broader trend of increasing litigation over injuries sustained during tender boat operations. As major cruise lines frequently rely on local contractors to ferry passengers to and from smaller ports, questions of liability have surfaced regarding the condition and supervision of tenders.
Courts have consistently reiterated that cruise lines cannot absolve themselves of liability simply by outsourcing the logistics of passenger movement. Public policy demands that cruise operators ensure the tender boats they contract are safe and that proper procedures, including slip prevention measures and passenger assistance, are followed.
The trend suggests that passengers injured during embarkation or disembarkation via tender boats will continue to find strong legal footing for claims based on the shipowner’s nondelegable duty standard.
Call a Florida Cruise Ship Tender Boat Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one have been injured during a tender transfer while on a cruise ship, you may have the right to seek compensation under maritime law. Contact a Florida cruise ship tender boat injury lawyer today to protect your legal rights and pursue the recovery you deserve.
