Motel ordered to pay $2M after fatal scalding shower incident

Zenebou Sylla, CNN

(CNN) — A assemblage awarded $2 cardinal to nan property of a man who died months aft being “scalded and severely burned” by h2o from a ablution successful his Kentucky motel room, according to a lawsuit.

Alex Chronis, past 76 years old, sustained third-degree burns connected his assemblage astatine nan Econo Lodge successful Erlanger, Kentucky, which yet resulted successful his “untimely and wrongful death,” connected June 19, 2022. according to nan title revenge by Chronis’ niece.

On November 19, 2021, Chronis attempted to return a ablution but was “almost instantly bombarded pinch scalding basking h2o which knocked him to nan level of nan ablution tub wherever nan h2o continued to scald him,” nan title states.

Two associates of Chronis rushed to his assistance aft proceeding his autumn and screams, according to nan complaint.

The ablution delivered h2o astatine an “extremely excessive temperature,” nan title stated. The somesthesia was much than 150 degrees, according to Chronis’ family attorney, N. Jeffrey Blankenship. Most adults will suffer third-degree burns if exposed to 150-degree h2o for 2 seconds, according to nan Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Chronis, a nutrient vendor visiting nan Cincinnati region for work, initially utilized nonprescription medicine for his burns earlier moving astatine a section festival, according to Blankenship. He went to a adjacent infirmary but near to return to work, Blankenship added.

Two days later, Chronis returned to nan infirmary for tegument graft room and remained hospitalized for astir 5 months, according to nan complaint.

In April 2022, Chronis was transferred to a rehabilitation installation successful his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, Blankenship said. He spent months successful nan infirmary aft nan incident, underwent galore aesculapian procedures, and endured “substantial conscious symptom and suffering” earlier yet dying from his injuries connected June 19, 2022, according to nan complaint.

The assemblage recovered nan motel owner, Sanjay Patel, “failed to workout mean attraction successful inspecting and maintaining their edifice rooms successful a reasonably safe information for nan usage of their guests,” according to nan proceedings bid and judgment.

According to nan Kentucky Secretary of State’s website, Patel owns Aspyn, LLC, which operates nan Econo Lodge successful Erlanger, which was besides named arsenic a suspect successful nan suit.

The judgment, revenge connected July 3, awarded Chronis’ property astir $1.3 cardinal to screen aesculapian expenses, $250,000 for symptom and suffering, much than $16,000 for ceremonial costs, and $500,000 successful punitive damages.

CNN has reached retired to Patel’s attorney, Lindsay Rump, for comment.