MIAMI – A cruise ship passenger is suing Norwegian Cruise Lines, claiming that she was severely burned when a defective coffee carafe caused hot, scalding coffee to spill on her hand.
Plaintiff Ashley Sztybel filed a lawsuit in federal court against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., citing allegations of negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and general negligence.
According to the lawsuit, on November 13, 2022, Sztybel was a passenger on board the Norwegian Joy, a cruise ship owned, operated, and maintained by the defendant. Sztybel claims that she ordered breakfast through room service, which includes a carafe of hot coffee. Sztybel alleges that when she collected her coffee, the lid on her coffee was not properly secured, causing hot, scalding coffee to spill on her left hand, causing her second-degree burns. Sztybel adds that when a crewmember of the ship inspected the carafe, they determined that the lid on the carafe was defective.
The plaintiff alleges that the defendant should have had foregone knowledge of the dangerous condition of the defective coffee carafe but still breached its duty of care by failing to warn her about the defective carafe, failing to maintain the carafe properly, and failing to ensure the safe service of hot beverages.
Sztybel is demanding a jury trial to seek damages for various losses, including physical pain, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement, aggravation of preexisting conditions, medical expenses, physical impairment, and loss of benefits from her cruise, vacation time and transportation costs. She is represented in this case by attorneys Jason R. Margulies and Carol L. Finklehoffe of Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, P.A. in Coral Gables.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida case number 1:23-CV-23896