Home / Crime and Justice / Cruise Boss Sues P&O for £9.7M After Toilet Slip
Cruise Boss Sues P&O for £9.7M After Toilet Slip
19 Jan
Summary
- Cruise executive claims £9.7 million after slipping in a toilet.
- Her injury allegedly led to a rare neurological disorder.
- Surveillance footage reportedly questions the extent of her disability.
An HR chief, Kerry Middleton, is seeking £9.7 million in compensation from P&O after a slip in a toilet aboard the MV Britannia in 2019. Middleton alleges the fall resulted in a fractured neck bone and subsequently a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder (FND), which she states has left her wheelchair-bound and unable to work.
While liability for the fall has been established, P&O's parent company, Carnival Plc, is contesting the substantial compensation amount. They argue that Middleton's FND may not be directly linked to the accident, suggesting workplace stress from a poor performance review as a potential trigger. This defense aims to sever the causal link between the shipboard injury and her current condition.
Further complicating the case, Carnival Plc presented secretly filmed surveillance footage showing Middleton appearing to move freely and cheerfully while preparing a New Year's Eve meal in late 2024. Lawyers for the company argue this footage undermines her claims of severe disability and casts doubt on her credibility. The trial has been postponed to allow for the analysis of this new evidence.
