Casino Horror Stories: From Flying Roulette Balls to Live Bats
Casino Off-Strip in Las Vegas Faces Legal Action Over Roulette Ball Injury Incident
In a chilling turn of events at the Gold Coast hotel-casino on October 28, 2021, local resident Dalease Brown found herself smack-dab in the middle of a casino disaster. Fueled by this ordeal, Brown has recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Gold Coast casino, run by Boyd Gaming. The heart-stopping allegation? A roulette ball, due to the dealer's negligence, was carelessly ejected, ricocheted from the wheel, and struck Brown in the eye at a high speed, causing severe and permanent damage to her vision.
According to Brown's attorney, Kevin Hanratty of the Hanratty Law Group**, the instant and excruciating pain Brown experienced following the incident is telling of the severity. After the unfortunate incident, casino security personnel prepared an incident report, and Brown promptly sought medical treatment at a local hospital.
This saga echoes the rare but harrowing incidents involving roulette balls in casinos. Previous instances, such as the one reported in Washington DC in 2015 and another in New Orleans in 2012, have emerged, with contrasting outcomes. The legal landscape for such cases is intricate, as demonstrated by their complexity.
Boyd Gaming, the Gold Coast casino operator, has yet to respond to Brown's allegations. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $15,000, accounting for the severe pain, medical expenses, and permanent impairment incurred due to the incident.
Bats Take Flight at Casinos: Another Unfortunate Encounter
If a bat flying around doesn't seem unusual, consider the lawsuit filed against MGM Resorts International operators of the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas following an encounter with a live bat in a hotel room. The incident occurred during the April 2022 stay of the Rucker family, causing concerns about rabies exposure. Marcus Rucker, awakened by a strange noise, discovered the bat hanging from their curtains. Despite reporting it to the hotel, the bat was mishandled and disposed of, denying rabies testing. Consequently, the Rucker family and two visiting children endured painful rabies injections, leading to a lawsuit seeking over $15,000 in damages.
While encounters with live bats may seem peculiar, consider that a roulette ball striking a patron in the eye is just as rare but equally frightening. Both instances highlight the potential hazards and unusual incidents that can occur in casinos and hotels.
Navigating Casinos and Hotels: Understanding Personal Injury Cases
Though specific examples of lawsuits involving roulette balls or wild animals in casinos may not be abundant, understanding the general principles of personal injury cases in casinos can provide valuable insights.
Common Personal Injury Cases in Casinos
- Slip and Fall Accidents: These accidents often occur due to spills, uneven flooring, or other hazards, requiring the casino to demonstrate a breach of its duty of care in maintaining a safe environment.
- Premises Liability: This legal principle holds property owners accountable for injuries caused by hazardous conditions on their premises. This could range from trip and falls to elevator accidents.
- Other Hazards: Such hazards might include accidents involving objects or machinery, such as roulette balls and other equipment, if they are not properly secured or maintained.
Lawsuits Involving Unusual Hazards
For unusual hazards like roulette balls or wild animals, the approach would involve proving negligence by the casino. This means demonstrating that the casino knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to address it, leading to the injury. Key evidence might include surveillance footage, witness statements, and maintenance records. Consulting with a personal injury attorney experienced in premises liability is crucial to navigate the complex legal process.
Current ongoing cases, like those involving bed bug infestations at hotels like Luxor and Treasure Island, serve as examples of premises liability leading to lawsuits. Guests alleging negligence seek compensation for physical and emotional harm.
In both the cases of Dalease Brown and the Rucker family, the victims suffered severe harm and emotional distress due to the negligence of casino and hotel staff. As these incidents demonstrate, it's essential for establishments to prioritize the safety and well-being of their patrons to avoid such unfortunate events.
- The incident experienced by Dalease Brown at the Gold Coast casino in Las Vegas highlights the potential hazards in casino-and-gambling establishments, as a roulette ball, due to the dealer's negligence, struck her in the eye, leading to a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages for severe and permanent vision damage.
- In a different but equally disturbing incident, the MGM Resorts International's New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas encountered a lawsuit due to the presence of a live bat in a hotel room, causing concerns about rabies exposure.
- Navigating personal injury cases in casino-culture settings requires an understanding of common risks such as slip and fall accidents, premises liability, and other hazards including accidents involving objects or machinery, like the roulette ball incident with Dalease Brown or the presence of wild animals, like in the Rucker family's case.
