The Brais Law Firm has been retained to represent Hannah Smith, a 22-year-old summa cum laude graduate of Miles College, who suffered catastrophic injuries during a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas. The incident, which occurred on May 12, 2025, involved a catamaran operated by Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd. and Sun Cay Ltd., booked through Carnival Cruise Line's 'Pearl Island Beach Escape with Lunch.' Ms. Smith was drawn into the vessel's propellers, leading to severe injuries and multiple emergency surgeries, culminating in the amputation of her right leg.
The firm is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and anticipates filing a lawsuit against Carnival Corporation, Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd., and Sun Cay Ltd. The lawsuit will allege direct negligence by Carnival for failing to ensure the safety of the excursion and vicarious liability due to the excursion operators acting as Carnival's agents. Claims against the operators focus on unsafe practices, particularly allowing disembarkation while the vessel's engines were active, violating industry safety standards.
Carnival is expected to deny liability, claiming the excursion operators were independent contractors and that it lacked control or knowledge of unsafe practices. However, Brais Law Firm plans to counter these defenses by emphasizing Carnival's role in marketing and selling the excursion, establishing apparent agency under maritime law. This case underscores the importance of safety standards in the maritime industry and the potential consequences of negligence, serving as a critical reminder of the need for stringent safety protocols to protect passengers.
For more information on the case, visit https://www.braislaw.com/blog/brais-law-firm-retained-to-represent-hannah-smith-in-catastrophic-maritime-injury-case-involving-carnival-cruise-line-and-pearl-island-excursion/.
