Family of Man Allergic to Shellfish Sues Vegas Eatery for his Wrongful Death

Family of Man Allergic to Shellfish Sues Vegas Eatery for his Wrongful Death.

Costfoto / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

Abraham Williams told his server at Beauty Essex, an upscale restaurant at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, that he was allergic to shellfish when he ordered spaghettini with pesto sauce one evening last year. But shellfish is what he got, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed Dec. 26 or at least shellfish contamination. After one bite, Williams went into anaphylactic shock. He died on April 30, 2023, and his death certificate lists the cause of death as “food associated allergic reaction.

Beauty Essex was opened by Tao Group Hospitality in May 2016 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which was later purchased by MGM Resorts. (Image: MGM Resorts)

The civil suit which seeks general and special damages in excess of $15K as well as punitive damages claims that Williams was served an “unsafe” meal with “known allergens.” It accuses not only Beauty Essex and the Cosmopolitan but the Clark County Fire Department and Community Ambulance of acting in a negligent manner that contributed to Williams’ death.

According to the claim, though employees at both the restaurant and resort were trained in medical response, they “stood by watching as (Williams) remained breathless, choking for air, and provided no assistance of any kind” after Williams was taken outside by friends who also dialed 911.

In addition, the lawsuit claims, these employees “created a barricade around (Williams) and refused to let anyone through to perform life saving techniques.”

Once the fire department and ambulance arrived, the suit notes, EMT workers began CPR and inserted an “airway device.” However, it also claims that they “failed to timely administer oxygen” or to intubate Williams correctly, allowing him to pull out his air tube. Furthermore, the suit claims, an EKG, which would have “properly monitored” his cardiac arrest, was not performed.

Decedent suffered severe brain damage and eventual death, claimed the the lawsuit, which was filed by attorneys Christian Morris and Jamie McInelly in Clark County District Court on behalf of Williams’ parents and an administrator of his estate.

Upon arriving at Sunrise Hospital, the complaint said, Williams went into respiratory and cardiac arrest, and doctors could not re-intubate him due to swelling. A cricothyrotomy was performed, after which Williams was taken to intensive care and placed on a ventilator. His family removed it so he could die, two days later, at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

The suit said the plaintiffs continue to “suffer from grief and sorrow” due to Williams’ death.

Article Sources
Injured Imperial Palace Casino Construction Workers Sue Building Contractor for Negligence editorial policy.
  1. Steve Wynn Lawsuit Scheduled for January 4 Hearing, Longtime Board Member Departs Company

Compare Accounts
×
Britney Spears Inks $500K Per Show Deal With MGM Resorts’ Monte Carlo Park Theater
Provider
Name
Description
NFL Players Association Opposes National Anthem Policy Change, Files Grievance  Macau Gross Gaming Revenue Outlook Slashed by Leading Analyst, Trump Tariffs Could Hurt Enclave  Saints and Pelicans Each Partner With Harrah’s New Orleans Ahead of Lawmaker’s Attempt to Revive Failed Sports Betting Proposal  Texas AG Keeps Poker Face, Declines to Offer Opinion on Controversial Lone Star State Poker Clubs  Travis Pastrana Brings Evel Knievel Back to Life With Three Iconic Las Vegas Jumps  Wynn Resorts Top Suit Kim Sinatra Walking Away from $13.3 Million Payday, Resigns from Exec VP Job  BC’s ‘Dirty Money’ Casino Investigation Shifts Focus to Housing Market Bubble  Asian Casino Scandals in 2018: From the Philippines to Saipan, Wrong Kinds of Headlines Make the News  Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun Casinos Want ‘Last Call’ Extended to 4 AM  BC’s ‘Dirty Money’ Casino Investigation Shifts Focus to Housing Market Bubble