A Miami-Dade County jury awarded Diana Sanders, a nurse from Vacaville, $300,000 after she successfully sued Carnival Corporation for negligence.
Sanders claimed that during a Carnival Cruise, she was served at least 14 tequila shots over eight and a half hours, leading to a fall that resulted in severe injuries.
The incident occurred on the Carnival Radiance as it toured Baja California. Sanders, 45, consumed the drinks from various bars on the ship. According to court documents, she was visibly intoxicated, yet the crew continued to serve her. Shortly after her final drink, Sanders fell down a set of stairs, suffering a concussion, possible traumatic brain injury, and other injuries.
Sanders argued that Carnival was negligent in its duty to supervise and assist passengers who were visibly intoxicated. Her attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, emphasized that the cruise line should have stopped serving her once she showed signs of inebriation. According to the Los Angeles Times, Carnival was found 60% responsible for the incident.
Carnival Corporation disagreed with the verdict and plans to appeal, stating that there are grounds for a new trial. The company argued that Sanders did not identify specific negligent employees and questioned her behavior at the time.
Sanders expressed relief and satisfaction with the jury’s decision, stating that it felt amazing to have her experience validated. Her case highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibility of cruise lines to manage alcohol consumption among passengers. Global News reports that the verdict may prompt cruise lines to reconsider their drink service policies.
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