MIAMI – A mother is suing a cruise ship line over allegations her child was injured as a result of negligence while a passenger on the Carnival Victory.
Melinda Smith filed a complaint on March 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Carnival Corp., doing business as Carnival Cruise Line Inc., alleging that the vessel operator failed to properly and safely design and maintain the children’s water slide area.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 20, 2014, her daughter was injured and suffered a deep right leg gash and laceration through her skin when she slipped on the steps leading to a water slide and fell on the metal handrail. The plaintiff holds Carnival Cruise Line Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to install and maintain proper lighting on the steps of the children’s water slide, failed to warn passengers of the dangers of using the children’s water slide, failed to have a crew member to assist children going to the water slide and failed immediately notify the minor child’s mother about the incident. The suit states the minor needed 100 stitches on the wound.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensation for damages and costs and prejudgment interest. She is represented by Paul M. Hoffman of Hoffman Law Firm, Paul M. Hoffman PA in Fort Lauderdale.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Case number 1:16-cv-21020