Woman Suffers Spinal Injuries After Cruise Ship Fall
In the middle of summer, Karen Kollinger decided to take a two-night cruise to the Bahamas aboard Celebration Cruise Line's "Bahamas Celebration" ship. The trip was anything but a celebration. On July 30, 2011, Kollinger was making her way down a staircase when "she was virtually catapulted out of her shoes," according to her attorney. Kollinger was heading down a staircase aboard the ship when her heel got stuck under a raised metal strip that was supposed to be holding the carpet down. Kollinger fell head first down the staircase and injured her spine so severely that she required cervical spine surgery.
Kollinger filed suit against Celebration Cruise Lines in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida alleging that Celebration was "negligent in maintaining the stairs in a safe condition, which created a dangerous situation," as stated by her lawyer. Papers filed with the court claim that the cruise line did not maintain the ship in a reasonably safe manner. Her attorney stated the ship was in calm waters and did not contribute to her fall. Additionally, the papers claim that Celebration failed to correct a dangerous condition that it was aware of or should have been aware of and as a result, Kollinger was injured.
Since the fall, Kollinger has amassed over $100,000 in medical bills, including expenses for her cervical spine surgery. Kollinger claims she has suffered a tremendous amount of both physical and mental pain as a result of Celebration's negligence. The court papers did not specify the amount of damages Kollinger is seeking. Celebration has declined to comment on the suit.
Jupiter woman sues Celebration Cruise Line for negligence, damages, www.sun-sentinel.com May 9, 2012.
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