Miami partners Russell M. Pfeifer and Gustavo A. Martinez Tristani, and associate Jackson G. Adams, secured dismissal of a personal injury action on the eve of trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida through a successful Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss on behalf of Wilson Elser’s client, a shoreside services provider. The plaintiff alleged that she sustained injuries inside a cruise terminal during the disembarkation process and asserted maritime claims against the cruise ship owner, the terminal owner, and our client. She later settled her claims against the cruise ship and terminal owners. After extensive discovery and prolonged motion practice, Russell, Gus, and Jack persuaded the District Court that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate the remaining claims against our client. Specifically, the team argued that admiralty jurisdiction did not exist because the alleged incident, a slip and fall in a small puddle of water, occurred on land, involved a fixed terminal structure, and did not involve a vessel operator. In addition, the activity giving rise to the incident – the alleged failure to maintain the terminal and/or place warning signs – bore no substantial connection to traditional maritime activity. The decision marks a significant defense victory and establishes an important and new precedent curbing the expansion of admiralty jurisdiction.