A woman, who slipped and fractured her knee cap on a Carnival cruise ship, has been awarded almost €2.3m in a compensation claim for a slip injury on a cruise ship.
Denise Kaba from Florida was journeying on a cruise on the Carnival Pride in August 2009, when she slipped and fell on the pool deck which had been treated with a resin that made it hard and slippery when wet.
As a result of her fall and slip, Denise experienced a fractured patella and had to undergo surgery six times to enable it to heal properly. It was also claimed in her action at the U.S. District Court that she may have to have total knee replacements in the future.
Denise’s legal representatives claimed in court that Carnival were aware of previous injuries associated with slips on the pool deck since it had been treated, yet had done nothing to make the surface safer or warn travellers of the potential dangers.
In concurring with Denise that Carnival were liable for her injuries, U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungara awarded £1.9m in damages, consisting of more than £138,000 in past medical expenses, nearly £235,000 in future medical fees, just over £107,000 in loss of earning capacity, £126,000 for pain and suffering in the past and nearly £1.24m for future non-economic damages.