In a significant legal decision, a federal jury in Miami sided with Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse from Vacaville, California, ordering Carnival Cruise Line to compensate her with $300,000 for damages, following the determination that the company acted negligently.
The reason behind the ruling was Carnival's decision to serve Sanders at least 14 tequila shots within a span of less than nine hours aboard one of their ships.
The verdict, which was documented in court records on April 13, exceeded the $250,000 in damages initially sought during the trial, as confirmed by her attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, to the Miami Herald.
The incident unfolded on January 5, 2024, on the Carnival Radiance, a vessel operating short routes from Los Angeles to Mexico.
According to the lawsuit, Sanders was served at the ship's casino bar from approximately 2:58 p.m. to 11:37 p.m. During this eight-hour-and-39-minute period, she consumed at least 14 tequila shots.
Between 11:45 p.m. and 12:20 a.m. the next day, Sanders experienced a fall that resulted in a concussion, headaches, a potential traumatic brain injury, back and coccyx injuries, bruises, and other harm.
She was found unconscious in a crew-only restricted area of the ship.
A pivotal element in the case was the lack of 30 minutes of surveillance video footage, covering the time from when Sanders left the casino bar to when she was discovered unconscious, which was presented to the jury.
The six-member jury assigned 60% of the blame to Carnival and 40% to Sanders herself.
The plaintiff's attorneys argued that the ship's bartenders should have ceased serving her alcohol once she was visibly intoxicated, highlighting that cruise bartenders often continue serving unlike their land-based counterparts.
This case is not isolated. Recently, a court also ordered the company to pay $344,051 to a 62-year-old passenger under similar circumstances.
The lawsuit also criticized the company's business model. Plaintiffs pointed out that Carnival’s CHEERS! package allows passengers to consume up to 15 drinks a day and that Carnival intentionally designs its ships to ensure alcohol service stations are available throughout the vessel to maximize revenue.
Such legal battles impact other cruise lines as well. A woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming the company served her fiancé at least 33 drinks before his death.
Key Questions About Carnival's Legal Challenges
What was the outcome of Diana Sanders' lawsuit against Carnival?
Diana Sanders was awarded $300,000 in damages by a Miami federal jury after they found Carnival Cruise Line negligent in serving her excessive alcohol.
Why did the jury find Carnival partially responsible?
The jury determined Carnival was 60% responsible because the bartenders continued serving Sanders alcohol despite her visible intoxication.
What does Carnival's CHEERS! package offer?
Carnival's CHEERS! package allows passengers to consume up to 15 alcoholic beverages per day, which some argue incentivizes excessive drinking.