According to the complaint, between 11.45pm and 12.20am Sanders fell after she stumbled while trying to walk down a set of stairs and “sustained severe injuries, including, but not limited to, a concussion, headaches, a possible traumatic brain injury, back injuries, tailbone injuries, bruising, and other injuries”.
Then, after 17 months of litigation, the case went to a trial by jury on April 6 which lasted four days, according to People.
The jury found both Carnival and Sanders were negligent, finding the cruise line was 60% liable and Sanders 40% liable.
Sanders was awarded US$300,000 for the emotional pain, suffering and mental anguish.
Carnival disagreed with the verdict, telling People it “believes there are grounds for a new trial and appeal, which it will pursue”.
After Sanders was awarded, she appeared with her lawyer on Instagram to talk about the case.
“Waking up after blacking out and going to the crew and asking them for help … they treated me like a criminal.
“I was very concerned that they wouldn’t tell me exactly what happened to me.”
Sanders said she felt “bullied” through the whole experience.
“I felt like everything they did was to either mentally torment me or financially torment me. It was a lot for the last two years.”