Tag Archives: Guest Safety

by | April 30, 2013 · 5:54 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Louisiana Hotel Sued By Guest Who Broke His Nose Walking Into A Glass Door; Claims “Unmarked Electric Glass Door Failed To Open Properly”

“…The (hotel) is accused of failing to keep doors properly functioning for its guest, failing to have doors properly marked for its guest, failing to Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitsensure the safety of its guest, failing to comply with the legal and contractual obligations for its guest, failing to act in good faith in paying for the losses of its guest and breaching its fiduciary duties and obligations for its guests…”

An Atlanta, Ga. man is suing a local hotel after he broke his nose when he walked face first into a glass door. Timothy Daniel filed a lawsuit against Clarion Inn & Suites, Choice Hotel International Inc. and their insurer in the Orleans Parish Central District Court on Feb. 15.

Daniel claims that while exiting the hotel building, without any warning signs, he walked into an unmarked electric glass door and broke his nose because the door failed to open properly.

The plaintiff is seeking full and just compensation for his losses caused by the injuries.

For more:  http://louisianarecord.com/news/251299-hotel-guest-sues-over-broken-nose-after-walking-into-glass-door

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by | April 25, 2013 · 7:43 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Solutions: Hotel Management Must Regularly “Test Emergency Power Supply System Generators With Load” To Ensure Guest Safety During Power Outage And Loss

“…the most important maintenance issue for emergency power supply systems is the requirement to regularly test the generators with load. Most often it becomes inconvenient to perform the test due to interruptions to delivering guest services. In order that proper testing of the Hotel Emergency Power Systemsemergency power distribution system doesn’t negatively impact hotel operations, modern technology enables a design engineer to develop an automatic power transfer system that provides a seamless transfer between the municipal utility supply and the generator system…”

Proper maintenance includes, but is not limited to, fuel filtration to reduce the possibility of contaminants, battery maintenance and replacement to ensure a successful generator start every time, and periodic load testing to reduce the possibility of failure.

Emergency generators are installed in hotels to prevent hazards associated with loss of municipal electric power supplies. The reliability of electric power supplies for Fire and Life Safety systems is critical. In a hotel, the automatic power transfer switches that transfer the electricity source to the emergency generator, must be timed to provide electric power to fire and life safety loads within 10 seconds and to standby loads within 60 seconds of loss of municipal power supply. The life safety loads include:

  • Illumination of exits from a hotel building leading to an assembly point
  • Emergency exit signs
  • Alarm and alerting systems such as the fire alarm system
  • Controlled emergency communication systems
  • Emergency generator-set room lighting
  • Fire suppression systems
  • Smoke management systems

An emergency power source cannot perform successfully unless each system component functions properly. While attention is often given to protecting the engine-generator set, components such as the fuel system, the age of the fuel (if using a fossil fuel product) and the emergency power transfer panels may not have the same degree of care. As a result, the emergency power source may fail.

For example if the engine-generator set in a hotel is installed on the roof to avoid being flooded, but the automatic power transfer system and emergency power panels are located in the basement, then in the event of a flood the system is likely to fail, regardless of the reliability of the engine-generator.

Hotel developers spend an enormous amount of money on emergency power supply systems so they are assured that in the event of an emergency, the hotel will have the power required to ensure the safety of their guests and associates.

For more:  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/column/global/154000392/4060426.html

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by | December 8, 2012 · 7:20 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Illinois Restaurant Sued For Negligence By Woman Who Slipped On "Wet And Slick Floor"; Lawsuit Seeks $50,000 In Medical Costs And Damages

“…as she was walking to the restroom, (the woman) slipped on a wet and slick floor…she suffered severe pain slip_and_fall accidentand discomfort, incurred medical costs and endured damages of more than $50,000, the suit states…”

A woman claims she suffered severe injuries after she slipped and fell on a wet floor at a restaurant. Janet L. Althoff filed a lawsuit Nov. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court against Ali Veseli doing business as Round Table Family Restaurant.

Althoff claims she was visiting Round Table at about 2:30 p.m. on March 9 when she walked from a dining room to a unisex restroom.

Althoff blames Veseli for causing her injuries, saying the restaurant negligently failed to correct the unsafe condition and failed to warn of the wet floor. In her complaint, Althoff seeks an unspecified judgment, plus other relief the court deems just.

For more:  http://madisonrecord.com/issues/366-personal-injury/250097-round-table-family-restaurant-sued-by-woman-who-claims-she-slipped-on-wet-floor

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by | November 4, 2012 · 6:57 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Hotels Provided Guests With Lights Sticks And Flashlights During Superstorm Sandy

Hotels ranging from a $1,000-a-night luxury lodgings to budget-priced properties are stocking light sticks —

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C

and in some cases flashlights — specially for the storm.

They’re meant to give guests an extra layer of security, even though all hotels have a generator for at least limited lighting.

At the Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C., turn-down service includes a few light sticks in case the power goes out, says general manager Elizabeth Mullins.

At the Four Seasons New York, each guest who checked in over the weekend was given a small bag with extra water, a flashlight and a note from the hotel’s general manager to make sure that they felt comfortable and knew that assistance was easy to find, says publicist Tiffani Cailor.

The high-end Omni Berkshire Hotel in Midtown Manhattan also has plenty of light sticks on hand, says Omni publicist Emily Easter. Guests will find a few in their room.

The combined Hampton Inn-Homewood Suites hotel tower in downtown Silver Spring, Md., has a box of them ready to hand out to guests in case the hotel loses electricity, which frequently happens in the Washington D.C. suburb.

For more:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/hotelcheckin/2012/10/30/hurricane-sandy-run-on-light-sticks/1667061/

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by | October 16, 2012 · 6:02 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Texas Hotel Sued For "Negligence" After Man Slips And Falls Down Flight Of Stairs; Failure To Post Warning Of Wet Carpet

“…According to the lawsuit, the hotel had washed, shampooed or cleaned its carpets prior to Steele’s arrival and left them in a wet and slippery condition without any warning to Steele…”

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to inspect its premises to be sure that they were free of unreasonably dangerous conditions, dry its floors after cleaning, limit access to areas in which the floors were not yet dry, warn its invitees of the existence of the wet floors, select and hire competent contractors in such a way as to ensure that they were not creating an unreasonable risk of harm to invitees.

A Louisiana man has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a Comfort Inn claiming that they failed to warn him that the carpet was wet, which caused him to fall down an entire flight of stairs. Walter Steele filed suit against Laxmi Lodging Inc. on Oct. 12 in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.

The incident occurred on Sept. 9, 2012 as Steele was attempting to exit a Comfort Inn in Palestine, Texas, owned by the defendant by the way of the staircase when his foot slipped on the wet flooring causing him to fall down an entire flight of stairs and onto the concrete floor.  The fall caused Steele serious and permanent disabling injuries to his back and spine.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, physical impairment, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and lost earning capacity.

For more:  http://setexasrecord.com/news/275705-hotel-owner-sued-after-patron-falls-down-flight-of-stairs

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by | September 28, 2012 · 6:16 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: California Hotel Sued By Family Of Woman Killed Crossing Street To Parking Lot; "Duty To Ensure Safety Of Guests"

“…The civil complaint alleges The Cliffs Resort has a duty to ensure the safety of its customers but failed to do so…the location is dangerous because resort patrons who do not use valet service must park on the east side of Shell Beach Road…they must cross the busy street without the benefit of a crosswalk, traffic controls, warning signs, or proper lighting…the lawsuit claims.”

The family of a woman struck and killed by an SUV while crossing Shell Beach Road in Pismo Beach nearly a year ago has filed a lawsuit seeking to improve safety at the site. The lawsuit was filed April 11 against The Cliffs Resort and the city of Pismo Beach by San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyer  Ryan Harris on behalf of the family of Tricia Rittger.

The Los Osos resident was 39 when she was struck Nov. 19, 2011, in front of the hotel and subsequently died, leaving behind husband Aaron and a 4-year-old daughter.

Harris said the lawsuit seeks to force The Cliffs and the city to improve safety for customers walking from the parking lot across Shell Beach Road to the hotel and restaurant.

For more: http://www.timespressrecorder.com/articles/2012/09/28/news/news54.txt

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by | July 4, 2012 · 1:23 am

Hospitiality Industry Security Risks: Ohio Hotel Employees Accused Of Raping Two Women Guests In Hotel Room

The 44- and 45-year-old women reported being raped by both men after returning to their room from a party. The indictment states that the women were vaginally raped while they were impaired and unable to resist or consent.

A Hampton Inn security guard and a valet are accused of raping two women May 13 in the women’s hotel room. Solomon Baba, 23, of Cleveland, and Kevin Kozieracki, 37, of Middleburg Heights, are charged with rape, kidnapping and burglary.

Baba, the valet, is being held on a $100,000 bond, while Kozieracki, is being held on a $250,000 bond. They are due back in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for a hearing Thursday.

For more:  http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/07/hampton_inn_security_guard_and.html

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by | June 20, 2012 · 6:15 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Virginia Hotel Sued For $250,000 By Guest Who Fell Down Stairwell During Power Outage; No Emergency Lights Above Door To Stairwell

“…(the plaintiff) unknowingly stepped into a stairwell and fell 14 steps, according to the suit. It states there were no emergency lights above the door to the stairwell or on the stairwell itself. Christians claims he received permanent injuries, and continues to have physical pain, mental anguish and lost wages…”

A Loudoun County man is suing The Homestead in Hot Springs after falling down a flight of stairs during a power outage at the luxury hotel and spa. Allan Christian, of 20934 Winola Terrace, Ashburn, filed the $250,000 lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court, according to online court records.

He was in one of the hotels’ restaurants at about 9 p.m. June 19, 2010 when the lights went out, leaving it “pitch black,” according to the complaint. Resort staff told Christian and other guests the lights would be on again soon, and served food to them, the complaint states. However, candles and flashlights weren’t handed out or placed in areas where people may need to walk, it states.

About 40 minutes after the power went out, Christian got up to move in the direction of the bathroom, and used “the furniture and staff to guide his movement,” the lawsuit states.

For more:  http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2012/06/northern-virginia-man-sues-luxury-resort.php

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by | June 15, 2012 · 6:20 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: New York Hotel Electrical Transformer Explodes Causing Power Outage; Two Guests Injured, Hotel Partly Evacuated

All hotel guests were not required to evacuate, but  the incident did cause a headache for some of the 3,000 guests staying there, especially due to the power outage. Some guests on upper floors chose to exit the building and had to walk down several flights of stairs.

On Wednesday afternoon, guests at the New York Hilton Hotel got an unexpected jolt as a transformer exploded in the electrical room. The explosion in the Midtown Manhattan hotel caused electricity to go out and injured two people.

Firefighters arrived at the scene around 1p.m. to find smoky conditions, injured workers, and people trapped in elevators.  Several took to the basement to put out the basement electrical fire.

Two workers were injured as they got caught in the blast while tending to an electrical panel in the basement. One man suffered from a head injury and was treated at the scene. The other was taken to NY Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center and treated for minor burns on his hands, the New York Daily News reported.

For more:  http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/1930/20120614/electrical-explosion-nyc-hotel-knocks-out-power.htm

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by | May 30, 2012 · 6:53 am

Hospitality Industry Compliance Risks: Hotels Must Have "Written ADA And Local Accessibility Policies And Procedures" To Avoid Costly Litigation

 “…(without) written ADA and local accessibility policies and procedures for your hotel or timeshare property, then you are taking unnecessary risks…New Guest Room Requirements for Mobility and Communication Features requirements apply to new and altered public accommodations…”

What Can You Do to Avoid Liability?

  • Training – Training is critically important, and it can help prevent expensive litigation. Thought must go into the preparation of an accessible room, and the approach must be different depending on the disability of the individual who has booked the room. JMBM performs site inspection surveys and works with hotel operators to train the staff to address the needs and concerns of individuals with disabilities.
  • ADA Surveys/Site Inspections – Even if you own or operate a newly constructed property, an ADA Survey will likely reveal areas of non-compliance and rooms for improvement in policies and procedures. By working with a CASp (Certified Access Specialist program) certified consultant, you may enjoy certain protections against liability while you seek to bring your property into compliance.
  • Website Accessibility – This is an area of focus for the Department of Justice. This area is evolving, but your website must already comply with all current reservation requirements.

For more:  http://hotellaw.jmbm.com/2012/05/ada_compliance_panel.html

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