PREMISES LIABILITY

Manatee Circuit Court

A Days Inn hotel near Tampa agreed to pay $675,000 to a guest who broke her leg after slipping in a bathtub.

In 2017, Patricia Vasquez, 75, was staying at the Bradenton hotel. After she turned on the water and stepped into the bathtub, she slipped and fell, fracturing her right femur. She had surgery followed by physical therapy. Vasquez claimed she still had pain and stiffness in her hip. Her counsel argued the bathtub lacked slip-resistant features or grab bars, and the hotel did not warn guests about the slippery surface.

The hotel countered that Vasquez did not use reasonable care and the bathtub was maintained to proper standards. The parties reached a mediated pretrial settlement.

Case: Vasquez v. Shree Ram of Bradenton

Case No.: 2017CA002103

Plaintiffs attorney: Justin B. Shapiro, Leesfield Scolaro, Miami

Defense attorney: Scott Terry, Phelps Dunbar, Tampa