Trial Magazine

Lisa Spearman, 34, worked as an officer aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. During an emergency drill, the ship’s nurse opened a closed, remotely controlled sliding fire screen door and started to walk through it. The door began to close on the nurse, prompting Spearman to come to her aid by pressing down on a door handle. Spearman’s right hand was pulled into the door’s recess pocket and crushed. She required treatment from an orthopedist and hand therapist. Additionally, she developed post-traumatic stress disorder and complex regional pain syndrome, necessitating treatment at a pain clinic. Spearman had been earning approximately $50,000 annually, including benefits, but now runs a business designing patterns for children’s clothing.

Spearman sued Royal Caribbean, alleging negligence and unseaworthiness. The plaintiff contended that, among other things, the defendant failed to adequately train the crew regarding its safety policies and to monitor the digital control board in the bridge, which should have alerted the first officer that someone had violated procedure and opened the door during the safety drill. The plaintiff also claimed the defendant was liable for the nurse’s violation of safety policies and for ship security guards’ failure to advise the nurse against opening the door when it was in test mode. Additionally, suit alleged the defendant should have provided safety guards to protect a person’s hand from being pulled into the pocket door considering 12 other incidents involving crewmembers whose hands had become caught in the power doors.

The jury awarded $20.3 million.

Citation: Spearman v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., No. 11-23730CA30 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Miami-Dade Cnty. June 1, 2018).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Deborah J. Gander and Susan Carlson, both of Coral Gables, Fla.; and AAJ member Tonya J. Meister, Miami.