A Fort Lauderdale hotel avoided a judgment of more than $3.6 million for the death of a pregnant guest after a state appellate court ruled in its favor, noting “several impermissible comments made by the plaintiff's counsel during opening and closing arguments.”

The Las Olas Holding Co., which does business as Riverside Hotel, will get its request for a directed verdict, in which the trial judge overrides the jury's findings, following a Fourth District Court of Appeal ruling issued Wednesday.

“The plaintiff and his wife were, unfortunately and through no fault of their own, in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Judge Alan Forst wrote for the appellate panel. “However, Riverside was also without fault.”