11th Circuit Tosses $12M Verdict in Carnival Sexual Assault Case
The 11th Circuit overturned a $12M verdict against Carnival in a sexual assault case and ordered a new trial.
Why it matters: This ruling clarifies evidence admissibility and jury instructions in maritime sexual assault litigation. It directly affects how in-house legal teams and maritime companies manage risk and defend against similar claims.
- The 11th Circuit reversed a $12 million 2018 verdict against Carnival in a sexual assault and false imprisonment suit.
- The plaintiff, 21-year-old passenger, alleged intoxication and head injury before the incident involving crew member Fredy Anggara.
- The court ruled that excluding an FBI report, which concluded the encounter was consensual, was a trial error.
- The jury must decide false imprisonment liability; the previous instruction wrongly directed liability to Carnival without full fact assessment.
On August 25, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a $12 million verdict against Carnival Cruise Line in a sexual assault and false imprisonment case aboard the Carnival Miracle from 2018. The plaintiff was a 21-year-old passenger who claimed she was heavily intoxicated and had suffered a head injury before the incident with crew member Fredy Anggara.
The appellate court found that the trial court improperly excluded an FBI report concluding the encounter was consensual. This report was based on interviews conducted shortly after the incident. A Courthouse News report summarized Judge Barbara Lagoa's opinion that excluding this report deprived the jury of critical evidence that could disprove the plaintiff's claims.
Further, the court held that the jury instruction on false imprisonment was flawed because it compelled the jury to find Carnival liable without adequately weighing the facts. Judge Lagoa wrote this could have led jurors to wrongly assume the sexual conduct was nonconsensual. The ruling restores the jury's essential role in determining liability, correcting a procedural mistake.
The decision highlights the significance of including all relevant evidence in maritime sexual assault lawsuits and affirms the jury’s authority over liability determinations. For legal professionals working with cruise lines or maritime companies, this ruling underscores the need to carefully consider evidence admissibility and jury instructions in litigation strategy.
Industry commentators note this case may shape how future maritime sexual assault claims are litigated, especially regarding investigative reports by law enforcement agencies. The ruling may influence defenses and risk management practices for commercial maritime operators facing similar accusations.
By the numbers:
- $12 million — original verdict awarded to plaintiff in 2018
- 21 years old — age of the plaintiff at the time of the alleged incident
- August 25, 2026 — date when the 11th Circuit issued its ruling
What's next: The 11th Circuit remanded the case for a new trial, where all evidence, including the excluded FBI report, will be considered by a jury.