Ontario Sun - Brais Law Firm to Represent Hannah Smith in Maritime Injury Case Against Carnival Cruise Line

The Brais Law Firm has taken on the case of Hannah Smith, a 22-year-old summa cum laude graduate from Miles College, who endured life-altering injuries during a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas. The incident occurred on May 12, 2025, while Smith was participating in the ‘Pearl Island Beach Escape with Lunch,’ an excursion booked through Carnival Cruise Line. The catastrophic event unfolded as Smith was disembarking from a catamaran operated by Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd. and Sun Cay Ltd., when she was pulled into the vessel’s propellers, which were reportedly operating in reverse. This led to severe injuries necessitating multiple emergency surgeries in Nassau, followed by advanced care in Miami, where Smith underwent three successive amputations of her right leg, culminating in a hip disarticulation.

Specializing in maritime personal injury litigation, the Brais Law Firm is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The firm is preparing to file a lawsuit against Carnival Corporation, Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd., and Sun Cay Ltd. The allegations include direct negligence by Carnival for failing to ensure the safety of the excursion and vicarious liability, as the excursion operators were acting as Carnival’s agents. The claims against the operators focus on unsafe practices, particularly the decision to allow disembarkation while the vessel’s engines were active, a clear violation of industry safety standards.

Carnival Cruise Line is expected to deny liability, arguing that the excursion operators were independent contractors and that it had no control or knowledge of the unsafe practices. However, Brais Law Firm intends to challenge these defenses by highlighting Carnival’s significant role in marketing and selling the excursion, thereby establishing apparent agency under maritime law. This case underscores the critical importance of safety standards in maritime excursions and the potential legal ramifications for cruise lines and their excursion operators when these standards are not met.