Tennessee family awarded $2 million in wrongful death lawsuit
The family of Alex Chronis, an elderly Tennessee man, has been awarded $2 million in a wrongful death lawsuit after he suffered fatal injuries from 150-degree water in a scalding-hot shower at a hotel during a work trip.
Tragic incident at Econo Lodge
Alex Chronis, a 76-year-old food vendor, was severely burned while taking a shower at the Econo Lodge in Erlanger, Kentucky, located about 10 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 2021. The water temperature exceeded 150 degrees Fahrenheit, a level that can cause third-degree burns within seconds, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, which cited the lawsuit.
Heroic rescue and delayed medical attention
Chronis collapsed in the shower moments after entering the scorching water but was pulled out by two coworkers who heard his screams. Initially, Chronis used nonprescription medication to treat his burns and continued to work at a local festival. He eventually sought emergency room treatment but left against medical advice to return to work.
Two days later, Chronis returned to the hospital, where he remained for nearly five months. During his hospitalization, he underwent surgical grafting for his burns and treatment for other complications that arose. By April 2022, Chronis was moved to a rehabilitation facility in Knoxville but did not improve. He was readmitted to the hospital in June, where he ultimately passed away.
Court ruling and compensation
Chronis’ family filed a lawsuit the same year, with a Tennessee jury finding hotel owner Sanjay Patel guilty of failing to “exercise ordinary care in inspecting and maintaining” the hotel room “in a reasonably safe condition for the use of their guests,” as reported by the newspaper.
On July 3, the judgment awarded Chronis’ estate $1.3 million for medical expenses, $250,000 for pain and suffering, $16,000 for funeral costs, and $500,000 for punitive damages.
“The family feels that the jury was able to see the wrongful conduct by the defendant and the resulting horrendous injuries which Alex suffered,” Jeff Blankenship, the family’s lawyer, told Law&Crime. “His death was caused by complications from the serious scalding wounds that were so easily preventable had the hotel management simply had a procedure in place for their customer’s safety.”