A Miami federal jury awards $300,000 to injured cruise passenger after finding Carnival negligent in overserving alcohol A federal jury in Miami awarded $300,000 to Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse from Vacaville, California, after finding Carnival Cruise Line negligent for serving her more than a dozen shots of tequila before she fell down stairs and suffered a possible traumatic brain injury. The verdict, delivered last Friday, marks a significant legal outcome in a case that highlights concerns over the risks of all-inclusive drink packages on cruise ships. Sanders was aboard the Carnival Radiance on January 5, 2024, when she was served at least 14 shots of tequila between 2:58 p.m. and 11:37 p.m. According to the lawsuit, she fell between 11:45 p.m. and 12:20 a.m., sustaining injuries including a concussion, headaches, back pain, tailbone damage, bruising, and other trauma. The complaint alleges that Carnival’s failure to monitor her alcohol consumption led to the incident, which the jury determined constituted negligence. Sanders’ attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, praised his client’s resilience during the 18-month litigation, calling the case a “massive undertaking.” He criticized the industry’s reliance on all-inclusive drink packages, which he argued encourage excessive drinking and place undue pressure on underpaid servers to prioritize tips over passenger safety. “This case underscores the dangers of these packages and the systemic risks they create,” Aronfeld stated in an email. Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, issued a statement expressing disagreement with the verdict. The company claims the outcome is “unjust” and asserts that there are “grounds for a new trial and appeal.#carnival_corporation #carnival_cruise_line #diana_sanders #spencer_aronfeld #miami_federal_jury
