Tag Archives: Injury Lawsuits

by | December 24, 2013 · 7:02 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Texas Hotel Faces “Wrongful Death” Lawsuit; Guest Falls Off “Defective Treadmill”

“…During his stay, (the deceased) went to use the property’s exercise room where he got on a treadmill maintained by Exer-Tech, according to the Hospitality Industry Wrongful Death Lawsuitssuit…a “defective” condition in the treadmill caused him to fall and strike his head (causing) a serious injury to his head which in turn resulted in his death…”

The family of a man who allegedly sustained a fatal head injury while working out at a Houston hotel has pursued legal action, recent court documents say. The late William Lake III’s widow and their three minor children filed a lawsuit against Marriott Hotel Services Inc. and Exer-Tech Inc. in Harris County District Court on Nov. 14.

Houston federal court received the case on Dec. 18. At the time of the events of last May 15, Lake was a paying guest at the Houston Marriott George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

His survivors fault Marriott for failing to address the treadmill’s allegedly dangerous condition while Exer-Tech is blamed for allegedly failing to properly maintain and repair the device. Consequently, the plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages.

For more:  http://setexasrecord.com/news/292891-family-asserts-defect-in-hotel-treadmill-caused-mans-fatal-head-injury

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Texas Hotel Faces “Wrongful Death” Lawsuit; Guest Falls Off “Defective Treadmill”

Filed under Guest Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | December 22, 2013 · 7:10 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Kentucky Motel Faces $1.1 Million “Negligence Lawsuit” After Guest Is Injured By Collapsed External Stairway

“…(the plaintiff) suffered broken heels and ankles in both legs, three broken bones in her lower back and multiple lacerations and bruises Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitsfollowing the April 23 stairway collapse…the defendants were negligent by “specifically allowing or creating a hazardous condition in the stairwell of the premises by failing to ensure that the steps were safe for use …” She also alleges the owners and manager should have known about the unstable stairwell. She is asking the court to award her $200,000 in medical expenses, $500,000 for pain, suffering and mental distress and $400,000 for future impairment to earn a living…”

A woman who was injured earlier this year after an external stairway collapsed at Richmond’s Super 7 motel suffered serious injuries that may make it impossible for her to work again, according to a lawsuit she has filed. Amanda R. Williams is suing the owners and operators of the motel, Richmond Host LLC and Alisha LLC, and the motel’s local manager, Paul Patel.

Williams said she must wear a back brace and is “confined to a wheelchair.” Both her legs are in boots, and she is under the care of a orthopedic doctor and a neurosurgeon in additional to receiving physical therapy, according to her suit.

See more at: http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/x1250993435/Woman-details-injuries-suffered-in-motel-stairway-collapse#sthash.MR4LdSyZ.dpuf

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Kentucky Motel Faces $1.1 Million “Negligence Lawsuit” After Guest Is Injured By Collapsed External Stairway

Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | November 26, 2013 · 9:20 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Louisiana Restaurant Sued By Disabled Customer Injured By Heavy Door; “No Assisted Open Device, Proper Signage”

“..(the plaintiff) went to open the heavy door leading to the restroom (and) when it swung back, (it) scraped her left leg, knocked her walker out Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitsfrom under her and caused her to fall to the ground. The plaintiff asserts she was injured in the fall…The defendant is accused of not providing an assisted open device on the door, failing to provide signage notifying her the door was heavy and failing to act as a reasonable person…”

A disabled customer who alleges she was injured in a fall while trying to open a door at a local restaurant is suing. Rosalie Miller filed suit against Johnny Trauth’s Seafood Bistro LLC in the 24th Judicial District Court on Nov. 4.

Miller claims she was a customer at Johnny Trauth’s Seafood Bistro located at 2121 25th St. in Kenner.  An unspecified amount in damages is sought for severe injuries, pain and suffering and permanent disability.

For more:  http://citizensvoice.com/news/lawsuit-edwardsville-man-finds-cockroach-inside-chicken-mcnugget-1.1591419

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Louisiana Restaurant Sued By Disabled Customer Injured By Heavy Door; “No Assisted Open Device, Proper Signage”

Filed under Guest Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | October 19, 2013 · 6:12 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Louisiana Hotel Sued For “Negligence” By Woman Who Tripped On “Elevated Transom” In Bathroom; Seeks Damages For Surgeries For Fractures To Leg, Physical Therapy, Loss Of Consortium

“…(the plaintiff) allegedly made her way to the bathroom and “literally stumbled upon a hidden trap in the form of an unexpected change in Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitselevation between the bathroom and the bedroom, causing her to stumble and suffer severe injuries to her left leg, including a fracture”…The defendant is accused of failing to warn, failing to fix the change of elevation, failing to properly design the floor, failing to act as a reasonable or prudent person would under the same or similar circumstances and being otherwise negligent…(the lawsuit) seeks an unspecified amount of damages for severe and permanent injuries to her body and mind, multiple surgeries fracture necessitated, the implementation of hardware and many doctors and physical therapy visits…”

A woman who broke her leg after allegedly tripping and falling on an elevated transom is suing a local hotel where the incident occurred. Rebecca Bofinger, husband and William, filed suit against Hotel Provincial LLC, Provincial Motels Inc. and Zurich American Insurance Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on August 8.

The suit states that on Aug. 9, 2012, the plaintiffs, both Baton Rouge residents, traveled to New Orleans, where they stayed at the Hotel Provincial.

Additionally, as a consequence of the accident, plaintiff William Bofinger has suffered a loss of his wife’s services, including but not limited to loss of society, loss of services, loss of consortium, and loss of love and affection.

For more:  http://louisianarecord.com/news/256016-hotel-provincial-sued-on-claims-that-hidden-trap-caused-guest-to-fracture-leg

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Louisiana Hotel Sued For “Negligence” By Woman Who Tripped On “Elevated Transom” In Bathroom; Seeks Damages For Surgeries For Fractures To Leg, Physical Therapy, Loss Of Consortium

Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Liability, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , ,

by | October 11, 2013 · 5:27 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Connecticut Hotel Owners Settle “Negligence Lawsuit” For $1 Million; Woman Tripped Over “Bunched, Wrinkled Carpet” Which Required “Elbow Replacement Surgeries”

“…(the plaintiff) was walking from the restaurant to the front lobby when she tripped on a bunched and wrinkled carpet, catching her toe on it Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitsand landing on her elbow…(she) had five surgeries, and when the elbow would not heal right, underwent a total elbow replacement…her medical bills totaled $240,000, which will be repaid with proceeds from the settlement, he said…as early as 2009, Holiday Inn, which was threatnening to pull the hotel’s license because of various maintenance issues, had inspected the hotel and reported that the carpet in the restaurant was loose…(attorneys) discovered that members of the hotel staff had tripped on the rug and complained to the management…”

The owners of the former Holiday Inn on North Frontage Road agreed this week to pay $1 million to a 77-year-old St. Louis woman who fractured her elbow after tripping over a loose carpet and falling as she exited the hotel’s restaurant. Heritage New London LLC, the corporation that owns the property and managed the hotel agreed to the settlement after five days of jury selection in New London Superior Court.

Norma Minke was part of a visiting tour group that stayed at the hotel on October 3, 2010, according to her attorney, Joseph M. Barnes of the Reardon Law Firm.

During the discovery process, Barnes said he deposed the corporation owner, Sunil Nayak of Princeton, NJ. Barnes said he learned that as early as 2009, Holiday Inn, which was threatnening to pull the hotel’s license because of various maintenance issues, had inspected the hotel and reported that the carpet in the restaurant was loose. The report specifically identified the location of the incident, Barnes said. He also discovered that members of the hotel staff had tripped on the rug and complained to the management.

For more:  http://www.theday.com/article/20131010/NWS02/131019970/1047

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Connecticut Hotel Owners Settle “Negligence Lawsuit” For $1 Million; Woman Tripped Over “Bunched, Wrinkled Carpet” Which Required “Elbow Replacement Surgeries”

Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

by | October 3, 2013 · 5:30 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Texas Hotel Faces “Wrongful Death & Gross Negligence Lawsuit” After Electrocution Of Young Boy; Pool Light System Did Not Have GFCI, Meet Electrical Codes

“…An investigation after the electrocution death found that the pool “did not meet applicable city, state and national electrical codes” Hospitality Industry Wrongful Death Lawsuitsand did not have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) on the pool light system which are normal installations in pool construction to prevent electrical surges…Brown Electric Inc., had been hired by Hilton to bring the pool into compliance but, according to a city of Houston inspector, had performed work without obtaining the proper permits. After the death Hilton and Brown were cited for “use of electrical system which constitutes a hazard to safety, health and public welfare.”…”

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, a Missouri City family alleges “gross negligence of epic proportions” for the swimming pool electrocution death of a young man at a Hilton Hotel swimming pool. Raul Hernandez Martinez, 27, and his family spent the Labor Day weekend at the Hilton Houston Westchase hotel at 9999 Westheimer in West Houston.

They were at the swimming pool at dusk when the lights came on automatically. Eyewitness accounts, and now a civil lawsuit, detail how an electrical current immediately surged through the water. David Duran, 11, “suddenly cried out as his body convulsed and he began to float helplessly near the pool light in the deep end,” according to the lawsuit the family filed against Hilton Hotels and the Houston-area electrical contractor Brown Electric Inc., which had performed recent upgrades to the pool’s electrical system.

The boy’s mom Isabel Duran reached for her son and was shocked as well and knocked unconscious. She was revived via CPR and suffered several broken ribs when family members and bystanders dragged her from the pool. The boy’s brother, Raul Hernandez Martinez then fought through the electrical current to retrieve his little brother and push him to the edge of the pool where others helped pull him out.

For more:  http://www.khou.com/news/local/Family-files-lawsuit-in-hotel-pool-electrocution-death-226219641.html

2 Comments

Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Insurance, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Pool And Spa, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

by | September 18, 2013 · 8:44 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Pennsylvania Restaurant Owner Faces “Wrongful Death Lawsuit”; Man Suffered Cuts, Cardiac Arrest After Falling Thru “Plate Glass Door”

“…The complaint claims that (the restaurant owner) knew the glass doors were unsafe, and, “despite owning and operating the restaurant and premises for decades … never even attempted to make the plate glass entrance door even marginally safer, such as Hospitality Industry Wrongful Death Lawsuitsthrough the application of widely available safety films that are applied to glass and cost only a few dollars per square foot of coverage…(the victim) allegedly suffered several cardiac arrests and was pronounced dead at 2:03 p.m. due to “penetrating injuries to the neck leading to acute hemorrhagic shock.””

A widow blames hazardous plate glass for the death of her retired college professor husband who badly cut his throat on the shattered door of a sandwich shop.

Plate glass, also known as annealed glass, “constitutes a well-known safety hazard when broken because such glass can break into large, sharp and unreasonably dangerous jagged shards if impacted,” according to the complaint in Butler County, Pa.

Laminated or tempered glass is safer because it “fractures into small relatively harmless cubes that are less likely to cause significant injury,” the complaint adds.  Cynthia Brunken sued Bob’s Sub and Sandwich Shop, located in Slippery Rock Commons, and its owner Cindy Marlowe for wrongful death.

A national standard was officially recognized in 1966 and an act was created in Pennsylvania “Requiring the Use of Safety Glazing Materials.”

“Despite the known and obvious risks involved with the use of plate glass or annealed glass entrance doors, the glass entrance door used at the Bob’s Sub and Sandwich Shop restaurant on June 3, 2013 contained dangerous plate glass or annealed glass, and did not incorporate adequate or safer glazing material, rendering the glass door unreasonably dangerous to customers, business invitees and specifically, Glen W. Brunken,” according to the complaint.

For more:  http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/09/18/61234.htm

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Pennsylvania Restaurant Owner Faces “Wrongful Death Lawsuit”; Man Suffered Cuts, Cardiac Arrest After Falling Thru “Plate Glass Door”

Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | September 17, 2013 · 6:11 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Illinois Restaurant Sued For “Negligence” By Woman Who Slipped In Puddle Of Water; Seeking $50,000 For “Leg Injuries, Pain And Suffering”

“…(the plaintiff) blames the restaurant for causing her injuries, saying its employees negligently allowed a puddle of water to remain on its Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitspremises, failed to remove the puddle, failed to reasonably inspect the premises and failed to properly manage the restaurant…In addition to her injuries, (she) became sick, lame, disordered and disabled; experienced pain and suffering; incurred medical costs; and suffered disability and disfigurement, the suit states. She also lost earnings and wages, the complaint says…”

A woman claims suffered left knee and leg injuries after she fell on a puddle of water at a Mexican restaurant. Andrea B. Mercer filed a lawsuit Aug. 29 in Madison County Circuit Court against Chivas doing business as Carisilos Mexican Restaurant. In her complaint, Mercer alleges she was eating at Carisilos, which is located at 1978 Vandalia St. in Collinsville, on Sept. 3, 2011, when she fell on a puddle of water in the restaurant.

In her complaint, Mercer seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

For more:  http://madisonrecord.com/issues/366-personal-injury/259131-collinsville-mexican-restaurant-sued-by-customer-over-slip-and-fall

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Illinois Restaurant Sued For “Negligence” By Woman Who Slipped In Puddle Of Water; Seeking $50,000 For “Leg Injuries, Pain And Suffering”

Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

by | September 9, 2013 · 6:27 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Missouri Restaurant Operator Ordered To Pay $20.5 Million To Man Permanently Disabled After Beating In Parking Lot; “Failure To Prevent Fight”, Violated “Disruptive Customer Policies”

 “…(the plaintiff) claimed the fast food giant failed to prevent the fight, poorly trained its employees and violated its own policies for dealing Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitswith disruptive customers…(the jury) actually returned a $25 million verdict against Jack in the Box after an eight-day civil trial. That was reduced to $20.5 million after the jury found Aziz to be 18 percent at fault for the attack…”

A City Court jury ordered Jack in the Box restaurants to pay $20.5 million to a man who is permanently disabled from a beating in a parking lot 3 years ago.  Ali Aziz, now 35, was beaten unconscious and spent more than a year in a coma after the June 20, 2012 assault. He has permanent brain damage and cannot walk or feed himself, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Aziz, through his mother Annette Brown, sued Jack in the Box in City Court in 2011.  Four people – three men and a woman – pleaded guilty and have gone to prison for it.
Earnest Carter, 22, was sentenced to 12 years in prison; Jasmine Jeffries, 22, to 15 years; Johnnie Lane, 33, to 5 years; and Rwoeshan Booker, 20, to 13 years, the Post-Dispatch reported.

A Jack in the Box spokesman said the company is considering an appeal.

For more:  http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/09/09/60939.htm

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Missouri Restaurant Operator Ordered To Pay $20.5 Million To Man Permanently Disabled After Beating In Parking Lot; “Failure To Prevent Fight”, Violated “Disruptive Customer Policies”

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Injuries, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | September 6, 2013 · 9:15 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Florida Sports Bar Sued By Man Attacked By Bouncers; Assault Captured On Cell Phone And Posted Online

“…a bystander caught the incident on his cell phone (and shows) the first punch thrown (at the plaintiff), then a bouncer stomping on his head.  However, Coelho was the one arrested and charged with battery on a law  enforcement officer…(but) what people see from the video (is that) he Sports Bar Lawsuit Over Assault By Bouncerswas the  victim an attorney stated…The state attorney agreed and dropped charges against Coelho…the (sports bar) posted a statement on their Facebook page deeply regretting the matter…The sports bar has also fired the bouncers involved in the altercation (and) they have  since been arrested for the attack…”

A man involved in a fight outside a South Florida bar is filing a lawsuit  against those, he says, are responsible. Alex Coelho was with his girlfriend and friends when he was attacked outside  of Dirty Blondes in Fort Lauderdale Beach back in July.  After a verbal argument  with one of the bartenders, they were escorted outside. As the argument ensued,  Coelho was attacked and beaten by the bouncers. The attack was caught on  camera.

According to the group, they ordered a round of drinks. When one of the  drinks came back wrong, they said the bartender became irate. “‘That’s what you  ordered, if you don’t like it, you can get a drink somewhere else’ type of  deal,” Coelho said. “I offered to pay for another one, and then she called the  bouncers over. I actually offered them, ‘I don’t want any trouble here.’ I  pulled a $10 bill out of my pocket.”

Coelho asked to speak to the bar’s manager once the tension began to rise.  “I work in hospitality, and I understand how people should be treated,” Coelho  said. I definitely wasn’t yelling. I definitely didn’t want to fight or get in a  fight. I’ve never been arrested, ever.”

Read more: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21011603710196/man-files-lawsuit-after-bar-fight/#ixzz2e8EiWlNd

Comments Off on Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Florida Sports Bar Sued By Man Attacked By Bouncers; Assault Captured On Cell Phone And Posted Online

Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Injuries, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as , , , , , , ,