Woman Launches Lawsuit Against Palms Casino Following 22-Story Elevator Accident
In a recent development, a lawsuit has been filed against the Palms Casino Resort and Otis Elevator Company, accusing both parties of negligence and safety failures. The lawsuit stems from an incident that occurred on May 5, 2023, when Rebecca Keith Wood, an invited guest, sustained injuries after an elevator she was in plunged 22 stories at the Palms Casino Resort.
The incident has sparked a legal battle, with Wood arguing that the Palms had a duty of care to warn guests about the "dangerous" state of the elevators. The lawsuit was filed in Clark County District Court, and Wood is seeking financial compensation exceeding $15K for general and specific damages, as well as attorney's fees.
However, it's important to note that there is no record of a fatal elevator accident at the Palms Casino Resort appearing in recent or widely reported news. While a lawsuit alleges a serious elevator incident at the resort, there is no evidence of widespread or ongoing accidents at the property.
In July 2014, a similar incident occurred at Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino, where John Deatherage experienced a sudden drop in an elevator, causing permanent damage to his spine and requiring fusion surgery on his back. Deatherage filed a lawsuit against Schindler Elevator Company, the firm responsible for the elevator's maintenance, and was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages in July 2018.
Safety regulations in Nevada require rigorous oversight for elevators, including those at major resorts like the Palms Casino. Regular inspections, maintenance, and certification by licensed professionals are mandatory. Nevada’s regulations also mandate that elevators have emergency communication systems, lighting, and automatic rescue devices in case of entrapment or malfunction.
After incidents such as the described lawsuits, investigations typically involve state safety inspectors, the property owner, and sometimes manufacturers. Annually, elevator and escalator incidents in the US cause approximately 30 deaths and 17,000 injuries, mainly affecting maintenance workers rather than passengers. Elevator freefalls can be caused by failures in components like cables, pulleys, or braking systems, or errors in the elevator's electronic control systems.
Wood claims that the Palms Place condominiums and Otis Elevator Company were negligent in maintaining and inspecting the elevators. The extent and cause of Wood's injuries are not clear from the lawsuit, but she sustained injuries to her "bodily limbs, organs, and nervous systems."
While the Palms Casino Resort is currently embroiled in this legal dispute, it's essential to remember that elevators in Nevada, including those at major resorts, are subject to stringent safety codes. The resort continues to operate, and there are no recent, widely publicized reports of other significant elevator accidents at the Palms Casino Resort since the filing of this lawsuit.
Sources: [1] The Las Vegas Review-Journal [2] Clark County District Court [3] Nevada State Safety Code [4] National Elevator Industry, Inc. [5] Various news sources and legal documents
- The lawsuit filed by Rebecca Keith Wood in Clark County District Court accuses the Palms Casino Resort and Otis Elevator Company of negligence related to a casino-and-gambling-related incident on May 5, 2023, where Wood sustained injuries after an elevator plunged 22 stories at the Palms Casino Resort in Las-Vegas.
- In her lawsuit, Wood also argues that the Palms Casino Resort had a duty of care to warn guests about the "dangerous" state of the elevators, seeking financial compensation exceeding $15K for general and specific damages, as well as attorney's fees.
- Otis Elevator Company, implicated in the lawsuit, is a firm that provides elevator services, such as maintenance and installation, for buildings worldwide, including the Palms Casino Resort.
- Casinos, like the Palms Casino Resort, play a significant role in Las-Vegas' casino-culture, but they're also subject to stringent safety codes, as demonstrated by the regular inspections, maintenance, and certification mandated by Nevada’s regulations.
