Recent Case Law
Cruise Ships Not Liable for Negligence of Cruise Ship Doctors
By Patrick Russell, Esq.
Feb 28, 2007 - 12:25:45 PM

Carnival Corp. v. Carlisle, 2007 WL 471172 (Fla. 2007)

The Florida Supreme Court held that the negligence of a Ship's Doctor could not be imputed to the Cruise Ship nor is the Cruise Ship vicariously liable under the theory of respondeat superior.  In so holding, the Florida Supreme Court reasoned that the Court and all Florida District Courts of Appeal must adhere to the federal principles of harmony and uniformity when applying federal maritime law.  At the time the case was decided, federal maritime law uniformly held that a ship owner is not vicariously liable for the medical negligence of the shipboard physican.

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