A Miami federal jury has ordered Carnival Cruise Line to pay $300,000 in damages to a former passenger, following a verdict that found the company negligent for overserving alcohol. The decision came after evidence showed the woman was served more than a dozen shots of tequila before falling down stairs and sustaining a possible traumatic brain injury.
Jury Finds Carnival Negligent in Serving Excessive Alcohol
The federal jury in South Florida reached its verdict last Friday, siding with Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse from Vacaville, California. The case centered on allegations that Carnival Cruise Line served Sanders at least 14 shots of tequila over an eight-hour period, leading to her fall and subsequent injuries.
According to the lawsuit, Sanders was aboard the Carnival Radiance on January 5, 2024, when the incident occurred. She was served the shots between approximately 2:58 p.m. and 11:37 p.m., and fell sometime between 11:45 p.m. and 12:20 a.m. The fall resulted in a concussion, headaches, potential traumatic brain injury, back and tailbone injuries, bruising, and other harm.
Legal Battle Highlights Risks of All-Inclusive Drink Packages
Sanders' attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, emphasized the broader implications of the case in an email statement. "Taking on a corporate giant like Carnival is a massive undertaking, and I have enormous respect for my client's resilience throughout this 18-month litigation," Aronfeld said. "This case highlights the inherent dangers of all-inclusive drink packages, which encourage excessive consumption and pressure underpaid servers to prioritize tips over safety."
Jurors were presented with evidence including 30 minutes of missing surveillance video from the time Sanders left the Casino bar until she was found unconscious in a crew-only area. This gap in footage raised questions about the circumstances surrounding her fall.
Carnival Plans Appeal Amid Ongoing Cruise Industry Scrutiny
In response to the verdict, Carnival Corporation issued a statement expressing respectful disagreement and indicating plans to pursue a new trial and appeal. The company believes there are legal grounds to challenge the jury's decision.
This case is part of a wider pattern of legal challenges facing the cruise industry over alcohol service practices. In a separate, ongoing case, the fiancée of a man who died on a Royal Caribbean cruise has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. That lawsuit alleges the company negligently served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks and is liable for his death after crew members tackled him and stood on him with their full body weight.
The $300,000 award to Sanders underscores growing concerns about passenger safety and corporate responsibility in the cruise sector, particularly regarding alcohol policies and server training.
