Cruise Line Sued After Graduate Loses Both Legs in Shore Excursion Horror

In a devastating case that has captured national attention, a 22-year-old summa cum laude graduate, Hannah Smith, has filed an amended lawsuit against Carnival Corporation and its excursion operators after a catastrophic incident during a cruise-sponsored shore excursion. The lawsuit, filed by Brais Law Firm and Scolaro, P.A., alleges that just two weeks after her graduation, Smith was served copious amounts of alcohol, including coerced liter pours and spiked drinks containing a drug-facilitated sexual assault substance, during the "Pearl Island Beach Escape with Lunch" excursion in Nassau, Bahamas. The complaint states that Carnival's own website promoted the operators as "hand-selected the best local providers" and "reliable [and] reputable," yet employees allegedly plied Smith and her companions with alcohol, furnished marijuana, and spiked her drinks, leading to severe impairment.

According to the amended complaint, Smith, grossly impaired and instructed to "use the water" as a restroom, entered the ocean from a catamaran ferry's dive platform. The captain then engaged the engine in reverse, and without warning, Smith was sucked into the propeller, causing traumatic amputation of her left leg below the knee and catastrophic injuries to her right leg, ultimately requiring three successive amputations and a complete hip disarticulation. She lost over 60% of her blood volume, underwent more than 25 surgeries, and spent over two months hospitalized, with medical costs exceeding $10 million. The complaint further alleges that Carnival deleted and suppressed negative passenger reviews of the excursion, despite prior complaints dating back six years about excessive alcohol service, unsafe practices, and a post headlined "Avoid this dangerous dump."

The lawsuit asserts claims against Carnival for negligent selection, failure to warn, and apparent agency, among others, while direct negligence claims for overservice of alcohol and distribution of controlled substances are made against Pearl Island and Sun Cay. Despite her life-altering injuries, Smith has become a voice for safety, speaking as a keynote survivor at the HCA Florida Trauma Survivors Luncheon. Her lead counsel, Keith S. Brais, emphasized that the case raises serious questions about what Carnival knew and concealed. The legal team is urgently seeking witnesses with firsthand knowledge of unsafe practices or misconduct at Pearl Island. Smith's story, featured in a LiveNOW FOX video, underscores the urgent need for accountability in the cruise industry.