Hotel Did Not Check Room or Status of Guest for Days After Scheduled Checkout

[paulzeee]

My question involves a death that occurred in the state of: Nevada

My dad traveled frequently in the winter months and spent a lot of time in Nevada to keep warm. In February he passed away in the hotel he was staying at. I will share the facts.

On February 20th he checked into a hotel in Laughlin Nevada. He checked in for 2 days and prepaid with a credit card. His checkout day was the 22nd of February. I have the credit card charges proving that. Also his neighbor spoke to him on Sunday the 19th and he told her he would be staying 3 more days then making his way home.

The key card showed the last time anyone accessed the room was the evening of the 20th, I am assuming my dad went out for something to eat then went back to his room. When he went back to his room he placed his do not disturb sign out and dead-bolted his door. He was a senior who liked his privacy and was concerned for his safety. He was also a diabetic.

It is assumed based on the coroner report that he entered into insulin shock sometime during the evening of the 20th. The official cause of death was "Diabetes".

He was left in his room and no one checked on him until February 26th, a full 4 days after his checkout time. In that time no one bothered to care for him enough to check if he was OK. Keep in mind this was a large resort and casino, not a cheap motel. Furthermore it was 4 days beyond his checkout time. You would think someone would realize there might be a problem???

His body was so badly decomposed we had to send dental records to the coroner to identify him. I never saw the body or the coroner photos, the funeral home in Nevada told us he was not "viewable", which was extremely distressing to the family as we could not believe he had died in such a way. They shrouded him in chemicals to keep him from smelling and we flew him back. He went in the casket and it was sealed.

We are horrified that no one bothered the check on him for 6 days, even though he was supposed to check out in 2 days, they left him there to rot. If they would have checked on him and if he was in insulin shock they might have saved him. Furthermore we have a tremendous amount of grief over the advanced decomposition of his body.

My question is do we have a cause for litigation?

[Dogmatique]

If he went into a diabetic coma on the evening of the 20th, he would need treatment within hours (if not minutes) in order to survive. He passed on the 20th, and his checkout date was the 22nd. I'm sorry, but nothing would have saved him.

[paulzeee]

If he went into a diabetic coma on the evening of the 20th, he would need treatment within hours (if not minutes) in order to survive. He passed on the 20th, and his checkout date was the 22nd. I'm sorry, but nothing would have saved him.

Wrong. Diabetic coma can occur for over 50 hours without death.

Furthermore when a man checks in for 2 days who doesn't check on him on day 3? Do they have housekeeping there? What hotel lets a person lay there decomposing?

[FullAuto]

He checked in on the 20th and hung a Do Not Disturb sign. At the earliest, they may have been interested in cleaning the room the afternoon after his checkout on the 22nd. He was already dead by then. So how is the hotel negligent?

Had he simply left his room key on the nightstand and walked out on the 22nd, do you think they are legally required to clean their rooms the same day? The key was likely deactivated. If their policies and procedures will allow someone to stay an extra 4 days for free, that's their fault but it's not negligent.

The fact that an elderly man with a medical condition can be out alone and go with no contact to/from his kids is closer to negligence than what the hotel did.

[paulzeee]

OK fair enough, I came here asking for advice, I don't give a shit about you being an LEO, so was my dad. I lost my best friend. All I am doing is asking for advice. Keep in mind the coroner investigator told me "off the record" that I should sue. It's 5 months ago, I didn't jump on the litigation bandwagon FullAuto. Maybe there's nothing there. The point is it was a hard thing for me and my siblings, and maybe you would feel the same way. I just wanted some advice without the personal jab, it was uncalled for.

My dad asked us not to call him, he was Canadian. He didn't want to pay the roaming charges. He was capable and able to travel on his own, unfortunately he was diabetic. He called me or one of my siblings every 7 to 10 days. I spoke to him 18th, we planned an ice fishing trip when he got back, that was the last time I spoke to him.

I apologize for attacking you personally.

Because you're not staying here long.

Won't lose any sleep over it.

[Dogmatique]

Look.

I'm sorry for the loss of your father - that's never an easy thing to deal with. But the chances of any court finding the hotel negligent seem to be slim at best. Why not take the facts to a personal injury attorney? The consultation will generally be free, and if there's a case you'll soon know.

[paulzeee]

Thank you for the sound advice Dogmatique, it's appreciated.

[PandorasBox]

"Also his neighbor spoke to him on Sunday the 19th and he told her he would be staying 3 more days then making his way home.". So maybe he extended his stay verbally with the hotel. "l may be staying an extra three days and will pay when I decide".