Jury Awards $9.5M in Slip-and-Fall on Ship

Martha Brannigan - Miami Herald

Miami Florida - A British fitness instructor who alleged he was injured when he slipped and fell on a wet floor at a cruise ship spa, was awarded $9.5 million by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court jury. According to the suit, Danny Simpson, 42, who worked for Miami-based Steiner Transocean, sustained a back injury and became incontinent and impotent as a result of the fall in 2006. The defendant -- Steiner Transocean, which operated the spa on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Crown -- filed papers seeking a new trial or a reduction of the jury award. "Steiner continues to strongly believe it wasn't responsible for the injuries,'' said David Horr, an attorney with Horr Novak & Skipp, who represents Steiner.

Miami attorney Joseph J. Rinaldi Jr. of Downs Brill Whitehead, who represents Simpson, said the verdict included damages for economic losses, medical expenses and past and future pain and suffering. Miami-based NCL previously settled out of court.