What was supposed to be a laid-back day on a Caribbean cruise has landed a Florida man in federal court, after he says the pool deck on the Carnival Magic got so hot it left him with second-degree burns on both feet.
According to his complaint, filed under admiralty jurisdiction, the passenger says he suffered painful thermal burns on May 21, 2025, while walking barefoot across the Lido pool deck during a Caribbean sailing. The lawsuit claims the injuries required medical treatment, resulted in continuing pain and scarring, and caused him to lose income. He is seeking more than $5 million in damages.
Justia Dockets & Filings shows that Jorge Luis Alverio Nunez filed the case on May 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The record indicates that Nunez has requested a jury trial as the case starts its path through the federal system.
The complaint states that Nunez walked about 20 steps from the pool back to his lounge chair when the deck allegedly burned the soles of his feet, leaving blisters described as consistent with second-degree thermal burns. As reported by NBC10 Philadelphia, the filing says the resulting pain, treatment and medical bills have led to ongoing mobility issues and significant expenses.
Alleged pattern across Carnival ships
Nunez’s attorneys are not framing this as a one-off accident. The lawsuit alleges that at least 25 Carnival guests suffered similar burns and that 42 passengers complained about sun-deck temperatures in the six years leading up to his voyage. The complaint also references two earlier incidents that it says ended in amputations, a claim that has appeared in national coverage of the filing and is summarized by USA TODAY via Yahoo.
What the suit says about the decking
The suit points a finger at a resin-based topcoat called Syntheteak, used on the Carnival Magic’s deck. Nunez alleges that this material can soak up sun and reach surface temperatures high enough to cause burns in a short amount of time. The complaint claims the manufacturer warned Carnival as early as 2014 about those risks.
The product is described in a technical brochure as a decorative resin topcoat that mimics teak on ships and includes reflective options to help limit heat on deck surfaces, according to API S.p.A..
Medical context
Second-degree burns typically affect both the outer layer of skin and the layer underneath, often leading to blisters, significant pain and a heightened risk of infection. Deeper partial-thickness burns can require more intensive wound care or even surgery. That set of potential complications, outlined by the Mayo Clinic, is part of why the complaint focuses on long-term treatment needs and scarring.
Carnival response and safety guidance
Carnival has not publicly pushed back on the specific allegations in the lawsuit. The company told reporters it does not comment on pending litigation, and news accounts note that neither Carnival nor API responded to requests for comment.
At the same time, Carnival’s own guest materials already advise caution around pool decks. The cruise line’s guidance tells passengers to “always wear shoes/sandals” and to “consider water shoes” in pool areas, language that appears on Carnival’s online help pages.
Legal stakes and next steps
The case is still at the pleading stage, with proceedings set to continue in the Miami division of the Southern District of Florida as both sides exchange documents and legal arguments. If the matter moves forward, it could lead to expert testing of deck temperatures and materials, and bring Carnival’s maintenance practices, warnings and history of prior complaints under closer legal review. The initial court filings and docket information are available through Justia Dockets & Filings.
