Carnival cruise passenger wins $300K lawsuit after being served 14 shots of tequila before serious fall

A cruise passenger won a hefty lawsuit against Carnival Corporation & plc., with a jury finding the Florida-based company negligent for over-serving alcohol and liable for subsequent injuries. 

Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse from California, initially filed a lawsuit against the company in November 2024 after she was given over a dozen shots of tequila in a roughly eight-and-a-half-hour period, The Miami Herald reported. 

Between 2:58 p.m. and 11:37 p.m., she was served 14 tequila shots at six different bars aboard the Carnival Radiance ship, including the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, the adults-only Serenity Bar, and the RedFrog Rum Bar.

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While inebriated, sometime between January 5, 2024, at 11:45 p.m. and Jan. 6, 2024, at 12:20 a.m., Sanders fell down a flight of stairs and sustained "severe injuries, including, but not limited to, a concussion, headaches, a possible traumatic brain injury, back injuries, tailbone injuries, bruising, and other injuries."

Sanders' attorneys argued that Carnival’s bartenders should have stopped serving her once she became visibly intoxicated, noting in the complaint that she was "swaying, stammering, slurring her speech, smelled of alcohol, and was acting belligerently."

However, rather than taking her well-being and safety into consideration, the crew was more concerned with alcohol sales. 

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Sanders requested trial by jury and damages for all court costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, and costs — both previous and future — incurred as a result of her mental anguish, lost wages, and lost earning capacity.

Carnival Corporation & plc. fought the lawsuit during the 17 months of litigation, arguing that she failed to identify any of the bartenders or bars where she was overserved and that there weren't any allegations of Sanders stumbling, sleeping at a bar, or slurring her words.

"Proving the over-service of alcohol is often difficult, as many people believe individuals should be solely responsible for their own consumption," one of the Sanders' attorneys, Spencer Aronfeld, told TODAY.com. 

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"Diana admitted her personal responsibility; however, the core issue was Carnival’s refusal to accept any corporate responsibility for serving someone who was clearly intoxicated."

Ultimately, Sanders was given a jury trial, beginning on April 6. After four days, the jury found Carnival negligent and awarded Sanders $300,000 for the emotional pain, suffering, and mental anguish, despite only requesting $250,000. 

Aronfeld added that he hopes the verdict encourages Carnival and other cruise lines to reevaluate their drink packages, limit the amount of alcohol served in a given timeframe, and better train crew members to identify visible intoxication. Still, Carnival doesn't agree with the verdict. 

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"Carnival Corporation respectfully disagrees with the verdict and believes there are grounds for a new trial and appeal, which it will pursue," a Carnival Corporation spokesperson told TODAY.com.

Carnival Radiance Cruise Ship Fast Facts

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Carnival Radiance is a Sunshine Class ship that originally launched in 2000 as Carnival Victory. The 101,509-gross-ton vessel underwent a massive $200 million refit in 2021, transforming her into the Carnival Radiance. 

At double occupancy, Carnival Radiance can accommodate over 2,980 passengers and is home to over 1,100 international crew members, according to the cruise line. 

She is based out of Los Angeles, California, year-round, primarily offering short cruises to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera, visiting ports like Ensenada, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Catalina Island, California. 

Read more: Carnival Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest