Royal Caribbean faces negligence lawsuit over Harmony of the Seas incident
Texas passenger LeAnn Carpenter alleges she sustained traumatic brain and spinal injuries when an access panel struck her aboard the cruise ship.
LeAnn Carpenter has filed a negligence lawsuit against Royal Caribbean in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, seeking more than $75,000 in damages and requesting a jury trial.
The case stems from an alleged incident during a seven-night Harmony of the Seas cruise from Port Canaveral in May 2025. According to the complaint, a panel behind a toilet became dislodged without warning while Carpenter was using the restroom. She alleges it hit her head with enough force to cause her to fall.
The lawsuit alleges Royal Caribbean failed to ensure the panel was safely secured before passengers were permitted to use the restroom. Carpenter received medical attention aboard Harmony of the Seas shortly after the alleged incident.
She was then sent ashore in Cozumel, Mexico, for further testing at Cozumel International Hospital, including CT imaging of her head and skull. Carpenter says she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury accompanied by cognitive and psychological symptoms. Her complaint also alleges spinal injuries.