The family of a Tennessee man who died from burns in 140-degree shower water was awarded $2 million in a wrongful death lawsuit last week.
Accordingly The Knoxville News SentinelAlex Chronis, 76, was visiting the Cincinnati, Ohio area in November 2021 to work as a grocery clerk when he suffered a scald while showering at the Econo Lodge in Erlanger, Kentucky.
Court documents obtained by the newspaper show that the water was more than 65 degrees at the time. Water at that temperature can cause third-degree burns within seconds.
Two people pulled Chronis out of the shower after hearing him scream.
The man attempted to treat his injuries with over-the-counter medications and went to a local festival where he worked as a food vendor. He later went to the emergency room at Miami Valley Hospital, but was released against medical advice and allowed to return to work.
He returned to the hospital within the next few days and stayed for five months. Treatment included surgical transplants for burns and other medical problems.
In April 2022, his condition stabilized and he was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Knoxville, but his condition did not improve.
He was later taken to a hospital where he died. In Kenton County, Kentucky, a jury found that hotel owner Sanjay Patel “failed to exercise ordinary care in inspecting and maintaining the hotel room in a reasonably safe condition for guest use.”
The verdict, filed July 3, included $1.3 million in medical expenses, $250,000 in pain and suffering, $16,000 in funeral expenses and $500,000 in punitive damages, the outlet reported.
