MIAMI – A passenger has filed a lawsuit against Carnival Corporation for negligence claiming a girl was raped during a vacation on a cruise ship.
George Luaces, on behalf of his minor child P.L., filed a lawsuit in federal court against Carnival Corporation citing claims of negligent failure to warn, negligent security, and general negligence.
According to court documents, from September 17, 2022, through September 24, 2022, Luaces and P.L., a 15-year-old girl, were passengers aboard the Mardi Gras, a cruise ship owned and operated by the Carnival Corporation.
The lawsuit claims that during the cruise, P.L. was with other minors when she met an unknown male passenger who allegedly misrepresented his age as 16 when he was actually 19 years old. On September 18, 2022, P.L. and the male passenger were headed to a dance party with the other minors in the group. According to the lawsuit, P.L. separated from the group to use the restroom, and while she was in the restroom, the male passenger allegedly entered the restroom and sexually assaulted and/or raped her.
The complaint argues that Carnival had prior knowledge or should have known about the potential for such incidents based on reported sexual assaults on their vessels. The plaintiff accuses Carnival of negligence, claiming the company failed to provide adequate security, supervision and warnings to passengers, particularly minors.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of normal life, disability, disfigurement, emotional distress, loss of earnings and earning capacity, medical expenses, the loss of the benefits of the cruise, and other relief.
Luaces is being represented by Jason R. Margulies, Jacqueline Garcell, and Elizabeth Irazabal of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman in Coral Gables.
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida Miami Division case number 1:23-cv-24276