Cruise Ship Passenger Breaks Ankle While Ice skating, Successfully Sues Cruise Line

[Jason]

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is liable to the tune of $667,000 to a passenger who broke his ankle while skating on an ice rink aboard the Adventure of the Sea, a federal court jury in Florida decided.

The Oct. 2 verdict is the latest in litigation against cruise lines over their liability for zip-lines, water parks, and other onboard activities.

The jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami awarded Edgardo Lebron $42,005.75 in medical expenses and $625,000 in pain and suffering and other damages. Royal Caribbean was 65 percent negligent in the case and Lebron 35 percent negligent, according to the verdict form.

Royal Caribbean gave Lebron skates with broken laces, failed to properly maintain the rink, and didn’t adequately warn him about the dangers of skating while the ship was in motion he alleged.

Those circumstances led to his broken ankle and permanent injuries in 2016, he said.

Royal Caribbean argued it had no duty to warn Lebron of dangers readily apparent to a reasonable passenger, and it won a summary judgment as to Lebron’s ship-movement claims in August.

“Royal Caribbean takes nothing more seriously than the safety of its guests. We are considering all post-trial options,” an attorney for the cruise line told Bloomberg Law.

Counsel for Lebron didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.  Senior Judge Patricia A. Seitz presided at the trial.  Aronfield Trial Lawyers, as well as Hardin Law PA, represented represented Lebron.  Foreman Friedman PA and Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt PA represented Royal Caribbean.

The case is Lebron v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., S.D. Fla., No. 16-cv-24687, verdict 10/2/18.

By Steven M. Sellers, BNA.com
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
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[Jan115]

I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of these kinds of lawsuits and claims against cruise lines, now that they are adding all these extreme activities. 

I haven’t participated in any of these activities, but wonder ... does the cruise line make you sign a waiver or something before you can skate, climb or ride one of these things? 

[Shari2]

Good question, Jan!

[jacketwatch]

Hmm. So what would happen if someone was at a disco dancing, fell, broke something and claimed the fall was due to rough seas and the line should have closed the dance floor?  I suppose there are all kinds of scenarios possible. 

I tend to be skeptical as people can be greedy. We have first hand knowledge of that. Our son was sued for more that 250K for an accident he was involved in. To make a long story short the plaintiff lost and had to pay 17k in medical expenses that were determined to be the result of fraudulent claims about her symptoms. And she deserved it too!