Carnival Corporation has been ordered to pay an extra $2 million in interest after trying to appeal a $10.2 million verdict in a sexual assault case, bringing the total compensation to over $12 million. The ruling comes after a Florida federal judge imposed sanctions on the company for delaying the case for an additional two years.
The victim, a woman from Washington D.C. referred to as "Jane Doe," was 21 years old at the time of the incident, which occurred on December 2, 2018, aboard the Carnival Miracle. Doe filed a lawsuit accusing Carnival of false imprisonment and rape by Indonesian crew member Fredy Angarra.
In 2022, a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida found Carnival responsible and awarded Doe $10.2 million in damages. Carnival, however, filed multiple motions in an attempt to overturn the decision, but U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams denied their requests last week. The judge ruled that Carnival must now pay an additional $2 million in interest for prolonging the legal process.
The Assault Incident
On the night of the incident, Doe together with her friend, had dinner with a group of passengers, attended a comedy show, and later went to another cabin for drinks. While returning to her cabin with a friend, Doe was running around the open deck of the ship and eventually slipping and hitting her head. Left alone, Doe ended up in a storage closet with a crew member.
According to Doe, the crew member locked the door and would not let her leave until she complied with his demands. She recalled trying to calm the crew member by asking him about his family, as she felt scared and trapped. After the encounter, she returned to her cabin, told her friend what had happened, and reported the assault to the ship's guest relations.
Carnival claimed that Doe had consented to the encounter, referencing a report by the FBI. However, under Carnival’s internal policies, crew members are strictly prohibited from engaging in sexual relations with passengers, even if the passenger appears to consent. Fredy Anggara was never arrested or charged over the incident and was fired and sent home.
Legal Action and Aftermath
Doe filed a lawsuit against Carnival on November 18, 2019, alleging the company’s negligence in hiring and training staff, failure to follow proper procedures, and infliction of emotional distress. She also accused Carnival of false imprisonment and sexual assault. The jury’s $10.2 million verdict in 2022 affirmed that Carnival was liable for the trauma Doe experienced.
