Several guests staying at Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada are suing the hotel and its builders for $337.5 million after alleging contracting a deadly form of pneumonia from the hotel’s water supply and air conditioning system.
Six of the eight people looking to sue stayed at the Aria Hotel between April and June 2011, while the other two guests are their spouses. They claim that they contracted Legionnaire’s disease, which can be a deadly form of pneumonia, from the hotel’s showers and other vaporized water sources; and from inhaling air from the air conditioning vents and has been confirmed by health investigators who believe bacteria spread through the hotel’s air conditioning and water systems. This is being blamed on the builder’s negligence as well as management’s failing to inspect and/or repair.
All involved claim to have gotten very ill after their hotel stay, with severe headaches, nausea, fatigue and a dangerously high fever; requiring large medical bills and seeking compensation for pain and suffering, as well as “loss of life’s pleasures.” None have fully recovered to this day.
The outcome of this suit depends on the measures the parties took to ensure that the building was up to code and functioning properly. As property owners, this is their obligation, keeping their guests safe.
According to published media reports, six guests have become ill with Legionellosis since the Aria hotel opened in December, 2009; one guest in 2009, two guests in 2010, three in 2011 prior to this suit. According to press reports, since the water system appeared to be in good condition the Southern Nevada Health District decided against testing the hotel’s water until two additional cases were reported to the CDC in June, 2011 at which time health officials commenced testing.
If the Aria hotel was aware of the potentially fatal risk to their guests, how can they still operate and welcome innocent, paying guests to their resort? At least they should have warnings visible before any guests book their reservations to make them aware of the risks they face when staying at this hotel. But then again, why would they want to do that? After all, it might affect business. Is this justice?
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