What Is the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit?
The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit is a single-plaintiff maritime injury case against Carnival Corporation and two Bahamas excursion operators, not a class action or MDL. One plaintiff and three corporate defendants are named, and no other claimants have joined.
Hannah Smith, a Tennessee resident and recent Miles College graduate, was injured on May 12, 2025, in Nassau, Bahamas. She had booked the Pearl Island Beach Escape with Lunch excursion through Carnival. She filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on December 17, 2025, and amended the complaint on March 11, 2026.
The complaint and Smith's counsel name the ship as the Carnival Celebration. A few 2025 news reports named the Carnival Sunrise instead. Everything described on this page is an allegation, and no court has made findings of fact.
Why Was the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit Filed?
The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit was filed because Smith alleges that Carnival and two excursion operators failed to keep her safe during a Carnival-sold shore excursion.
According to the amended complaint, bartenders on Pearl Island served Smith heavy complimentary alcohol, including "liter pours" poured into her mouth. It alleges staff also supplied marijuana and spiked the drinks with a sedating substance. Counsel states these events took place within about one hour and eleven minutes.
On the return ferry, Smith allegedly asked for a restroom and a crew member told her to "use the water." She entered the water from the aft dive platform. The complaint alleges the captain then engaged an engine, and the propeller pulled her under.
The claims against Carnival rest on different theories. Smith alleges negligent selection, supervision and failure to warn, and she argues the operators acted as Carnival's agents. She cites Carnival's own promotional claim that it "hand-selected the best local providers."
Carnival is sued over an excursion it did not operate because Smith says Carnival advertised, sold, and collected payment for it. Carnival's website says independent local companies run its shore excursions and bear sole responsibility. A court must decide which position the law supports.
What Harms Does the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit Allege?
The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit alleges five distinct categories of harm from one incident. Each is defined in plain language below, followed by what the complaint states. Carnival disputes responsibility, and no court has decided the merits.
Amputation of Both Legs
A traumatic amputation is the loss of a limb caused by sudden injury, and a hip disarticulation is the surgical removal of an entire leg at the hip joint.
The amended complaint alleges the propeller nearly severed Smith's left leg below the knee. It alleges her right leg then needed three successive amputations, first below the knee, then above the knee, and finally a hip disarticulation on June 23, 2025. Counsel states Smith underwent more than 25 operative procedures at a Miami hospital.
Severe Blood Loss and Organ Failure
Hypovolemic shock is a dangerous drop in blood volume that leaves the body unable to supply its organs with enough blood.
The complaint alleges Smith lost more than 60 percent of her blood volume and arrived at a Nassau hospital in hypovolemic shock. It states she was flown to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami on May 14, 2025. There she received transfusions exceeding 20 units and prolonged intensive care for multi-organ failure, and she was discharged on July 18, 2025.
Permanent Disability and Disfigurement
In injury law, disability means a lasting loss of physical function, and disfigurement means a lasting change to a person's appearance.
Smith lists both disability and disfigurement among her damages. Her counsel states she faces permanent loss of both lower limbs and a lifetime of prosthetics and physical care. The complaint describes her as a previously healthy young woman before the incident.
Mental Anguish and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that can follow a frightening event, with symptoms such as intrusive memories and persistent anxiety.
Smith alleges mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental or nervous disorders. Her counsel states she needs ongoing psychological treatment. These are claimed damages, and they would require proof at trial.
Past and Future Medical Expenses
In a personal injury case, medical expenses are the costs of treatment already received and the treatment a plaintiff reasonably expects to need later.
The amended complaint alleges Smith's care at the Miami hospital alone exceeds ten million dollars. She seeks past and future medical costs, including prosthetics and rehabilitation. Local reports said a family fundraiser had raised nearly $80,000 by June 2026.
What Is the Current Status of the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit?
The current status of the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit is pending in federal court. The docket shows active motion practice through October 6, 2026, and the sources reviewed report no settlement, liability ruling, or trial date.
Smith v. Carnival Corporation, et al.
Smith filed her complaint on December 17, 2025, and an Amended Complaint and Jury Demand on March 11, 2026. Pearl Investment Management Group and Sun Cay argue the court lacks personal jurisdiction over them. They say both are Bahamian companies and the injury happened in Bahamian waters.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami) |
| Case No. | 1:25-cv-25952-WPD |
| Judge | William P. Dimitrouleas |
| Filed | December 17, 2025 (amended March 11, 2026) |
| Plaintiff's Counsel | Brais Law Firm (Keith S. Brais and Loretta Guevara) |
| Defendants | Carnival Corporation d/b/a Carnival Cruise Line; Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd.; Sun Cay, Ltd. |
| Causes of Action | Negligent selection and retention, negligent supervision, negligent failure to warn, general negligence, apparent agency, joint venture liability |
| Jury Demand | Yes |
| Latest Docket Activity | Status conference entry and order on a motion to compel, October 6, 2026 |
On June 11, 2026, the court entered an order referring pending motions to Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D'Angelo. A docket listing reported by Justia says the judge deferred Carnival's motion to dismiss until the jurisdiction question is resolved. Some outlets reported that the dismissal requests were denied. The docket entries reviewed for this page do not confirm that, so those reports remain unverified.
How Much Is the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit Worth?
The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit has not settled, so no figure for what the case is worth exists. No verdict, settlement, or payout has been reported.
The amended complaint does not state a dollar demand. It seeks damages for the harms listed above and demands a jury trial. The allegation that hospital care exceeds ten million dollars describes billed treatment, and it is not an estimate of any recovery.
Any recovery would depend on whether a jury finds Carnival, the operators, or both legally responsible. Defendants can also ask a jury to assign part of the fault to the plaintiff, a common defense in negligence cases.
No trial date has been reported. The court must first resolve whether it has personal jurisdiction over the two Bahamian defendants.
Latest Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit Updates
The latest Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit updates and news, including new filings, rulings, and case-count reports, are tracked below as they're confirmed. The federal case Smith v. Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida continues in active pretrial proceedings as of October 2026, with no global settlement reached. See the full timeline below for every confirmed development since the litigation began.
Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit Timeline
Court Holds a Status Conference Entry and Rules on a Motion to Compel
The docket for Smith v. Carnival Corporation lists a status conference entry and an order on a motion to compel on October 6, 2026. The motion to compel was filed the day before as Docket Entry 77. Public docket labels do not describe the ruling.
Judge Issues an Order on a Motion to Continue
The court entered an order on a motion to continue on September 22, 2026, one day after the motion was filed as Docket Entry 73. The public docket label does not say which event was moved.
Transcript of the August Motion Hearing Is Filed
A hearing transcript appeared on the Smith v. Carnival Corporation docket on August 28, 2026, as Docket Entry 72. It follows the motion hearing held on August 20, 2026.
Court Issues an Order on a Motion for Discovery
The court entered an order on a motion for discovery on August 21, 2026, the day after a motion hearing in the case. The docket label does not state whether the court granted or denied the motion.
Hearing Is Reset and Pending Deadlines Are Terminated
The Smith v. Carnival Corporation docket records an order resetting or cancelling a hearing on July 24, 2026. The same day, the clerk terminated pending deadlines and hearings.
Judge Dimitrouleas Sets a Status Conference
Judge William P. Dimitrouleas entered an order setting a status conference on July 10, 2026, as Docket Entry 65. The order came about a month after the court referred the jurisdiction motions to a magistrate judge.
Court Refers the Jurisdiction Motions to a Magistrate Judge
On June 11, 2026, the court referred pending motions to Magistrate Judge Ellen F. D'Angelo for disposition or a report and recommendation. A docket listing reported by Justia says the judge also deferred Carnival's motion to dismiss until personal jurisdiction over the Bahamian defendants is resolved.
Smith Opposes the Jurisdiction Motions
Hannah Smith filed responses opposing the motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction on June 8 and June 9, 2026, as Docket Entries 57 and 58. Sun Cay answered with a reply on June 12, 2026.
Bahamas Press Reports Pearl Island's Jurisdiction Argument
The Nassau Tribune reported that Pearl Island argued the Florida court has no personal jurisdiction over it, calling itself a Bahamian company and saying the incident occurred in Bahamian waters. It said Sun Cay filed a similar motion and described the vessel as docked at a pier in the Port of Nassau.
New York Post and Daily Mail Publish Complaint Details
The New York Post, citing a Daily Mail report, published allegations from the complaint on May 21, 2026. The coverage included the alleged instruction to use the water and a reported blood alcohol level of 0.447.
Brooklyn Pitre Files a Separate Lawsuit Against Carnival
Smith's travel companion Brooklyn Pitre filed Pitre v. Carnival Corporation, No. 1:26-cv-23310, in the Southern District of Florida on May 11, 2026. The same day, another motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction was filed in Smith's case.
Pearl Island Partner Signs an Affidavit and a Second Jurisdiction Motion Is Filed
Peter Rebmann, managing partner of Pearl Investment Management Group, signed an affidavit dated April 28, 2026 describing the company's lack of Florida ties. The docket shows dismissal-for-lack-of-jurisdiction motions on April 27 and April 28, 2026.
Motion to Dismiss Appears on the Docket
The docket shows a filing labeled Dismiss on April 21, 2026, as Docket Entry 34. Public reporting says Carnival moved to dismiss the amended complaint on the ground that its excursion operators are independent contractors.
Court Enters an Order on the First Motion to Dismiss
The court entered an order on the motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim on March 12, 2026, one day after Smith filed her amended complaint. The docket label does not state the terms.
Smith Files an Amended Complaint and Jury Demand
Smith filed the Amended Complaint and Jury Demand on March 11, 2026, as Docket Entry 28, naming Carnival Corporation, Pearl Investment Management Group, and Sun Cay. It adds detail on alleged prior complaints about the Pearl Island excursion.
Two Defendants Execute Waivers of Service
Two waivers of service were executed on February 25, 2026, as Docket Entries 25 and 26. Summonses had been returned unexecuted for two defendants on January 19, 2026, and reissued on January 26, 2026.
First Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Is Filed
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim was filed against Smith's original complaint on February 4, 2026, as Docket Entry 15. The court had granted an extension for a response on January 8, 2026.
Smith Files Her Complaint in Miami Federal Court
Hannah Smith filed her complaint in the Southern District of Florida on December 17, 2025, and the case was assigned to Judge William P. Dimitrouleas as No. 1:25-cv-25952. The court issued summonses the same day.
Smith Is Discharged After More Than Two Months in the Hospital
The amended complaint states Smith left HCA Florida Kendall Hospital on July 18, 2025, and moved to a rehabilitation facility. She had been in the hospital since her May 14 transfer from Nassau.
Brais Law Firm Announces It Has Been Retained
Brais Law Firm announced on July 11, 2025 that it represents Hannah Smith. The firm said it expected to sue Carnival and the operators of the Pearl Island excursion, citing negligence and apparent agency theories.
Smith Undergoes a Hip Disarticulation of the Right Leg
According to the amended complaint, Smith underwent a hip disarticulation of her right leg on June 23, 2025. It was the third successive amputation on that leg.
Smith Is Airlifted From Nassau to a Miami Hospital
Smith was transferred by air ambulance to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami on May 14, 2025, after emergency surgery at a Nassau hospital. The complaint says she arrived in critical condition.
Royal Bahamas Police Force Opens an Investigation
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said Smith was alleged to have entered the water from a vessel while it tried to dock, and it said the captain put the engine in neutral. Smith's mother told reporters Hannah was not intoxicated and had fallen. No investigation result has been published in the sources reviewed.
Smith Is Injured After the Pearl Island Excursion in Nassau
Hannah Smith was injured by a catamaran ferry propeller at the Nassau cruise port on May 12, 2025, at the end of the Pearl Island Beach Escape with Lunch excursion. She was traveling with her friend Brooklyn Pitre to celebrate her graduation.
State Department Issues a Bahamas Travel Advisory
The U.S. Department of State issued a Bahamas Travel Advisory dated March 31, 2025, warning about boating safety hazards and sexual assaults. The amended complaint cites it, and it came less than two months before the incident.
What Did Carnival Allegedly Know Before the Hannah Smith Cruise Excursion Injury?
Carnival allegedly knew of years of passenger complaints about the Pearl Island excursion before Smith was injured, according to the amended complaint. Carnival disputes that it controlled the excursion or bears responsibility for it.
The complaint cites online reviews. One from November 2023 describes a ferry that was not tied off and engines running as passengers disembarked. Another describes a leg injury from the same gap about a year before the incident. It also alleges complaints about alcohol overservice stretched back at least six years.
The complaint further alleges Carnival's bridge officers could see the ferry's mooring practices from the Nassau pier. It alleges Carnival deleted negative reviews of its excursions from its website. Both claims are allegations, and Carnival has not publicly responded to them.
Carnival told reporters its thoughts are with Smith and that it cannot comment further on the proceedings. Its website says independent local operators run its shore excursions and bear sole responsibility for them. The Daily Beast reported that the other two defendants called the event a tragic accident.
How Does the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise Lawsuit Compare to Related Cases?
The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit has one companion case and is separate from other Carnival suits. The companion case was filed by Smith's friend, and the other matter involves a different passenger and a different event.
| Case | Plaintiff | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith v. Carnival Corporation, No. 1:25-cv-25952 (this page) | Hannah Smith | Propeller injury after the Pearl Island excursion, May 12, 2025 | Pending, filed December 17, 2025 |
| Pitre v. Carnival Corporation, No. 1:26-cv-23310 | Brooklyn Pitre | Same excursion, alleged groping by a bartender and post-traumatic stress disorder | Pending, filed May 11, 2026 |
| Carnival alcohol overservice verdict (unrelated) | A separate passenger | Reported $300,000 award over dangerous alcohol service | Reported April 15, 2026, separate case |
Pitre alleges a staff member touched her inappropriately and that she developed post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing Smith's injuries. Reports differ on which defendants she names. The April 2026 overservice verdict involved a different excursion and cannot be used to predict the outcome of Smith's case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit about?
The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit is a federal negligence case in which Smith alleges excursion staff overserved her alcohol and told her to use the water, after which a ferry propeller injured her and led to the loss of both legs.
Is the Hannah Smith Carnival lawsuit a class action or an MDL?
No. The Hannah Smith Carnival lawsuit is a single-plaintiff case, not a class action or multidistrict litigation. One plaintiff and three named corporate defendants are in the case, and no other claimants have joined it.
Who is being sued in the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit?
Carnival Corporation, doing business as Carnival Cruise Line, is sued in the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit together with Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd. and Sun Cay, Ltd., the reported owners or operators of the excursion and ferry.
Has the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit settled?
No. The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit has not settled, and the docket through October 6, 2026 shows no settlement or verdict. The sources reviewed also report no trial date.
Why is Carnival being sued over an excursion run by another company?
Carnival is being sued over an excursion run by another company because Smith alleges Carnival advertised, sold, and collected payment for it. She argues the operators acted as Carnival's agents, and Carnival says they were independent contractors.
Did a judge dismiss the Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit?
No. The Hannah Smith Carnival Cruise lawsuit remains pending, and docket activity continued through October 6, 2026. Some outlets reported that a dismissal request was denied, but the docket entries reviewed do not confirm that.
Is the Hannah Smith case the same as Brooklyn Pitre's lawsuit?
No. Brooklyn Pitre's lawsuit, No. 1:26-cv-23310, is a separate case that Smith's friend filed on May 11, 2026. It concerns the same excursion but alleges different harms to a different plaintiff.