Aria Las Vegas Sued for Wrongful Death by UK Family

The family members of a person who passed away during his stay at a popular Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino filed a lawsuit, alleging wrongful death.

Several Companies Named Defendants in the Lawsuit

The case in question involves William Howell, a British man who visited the Aria in Las Vegas and passed away from diabetic ketoacidosis back in August 2023. The lawsuit was filed by Emma Vassallo, a co-administrator of the man’s estate who also represents Louis and Jack Howell, his two minor sons.

As announced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the lawsuit was filed last week with the Eighth Judicial District Court. The five-count civil lawsuit names Aria’s parent company, MGM Resorts International, the Aria Hotel and Casino, Roe Security Company and an ambulance service and two medics as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants, through wrongful and negligent acts, contributed to the death of Howell. The legal claim is reportedly requesting compensation for general, specific and punitive damages. Moreover, the claim aims to recover legal fees, financial losses and funeral costs.

The Man Wasn’t Allow to Board His Flight, Returned to the Aria

Howell was found deceased in his room at the Aria on August 31, 2023, after an employee was sent to check on him at about 12:24 PM. The man allegedly died because of diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition related to diabetes. The condition occurs when the body of a person suffering from diabetes produces too many acids called ketones. Howell suffered from Type 1 diabetes.

The night before his passing, the man was supposed to travel back to London. He had a Virgin Airlines flight booked in the evening but was unable to board it after an airline employee noticed that the man was visibly unwell.

Two medics from Community Ambulance responded to the call and checked the man’s vitals. Howell reportedly had high blood sugar. According to the lawsuit, the two medics “spent no more than two minutes” with the man before he signed a form refusing medical transport. The lawsuit alleges that the medics failed to notify Howell about the consequences he may face if he doesn’t seek medical help, also “did not properly assess (the man’s) mental capacity, did not perform the proper testing.”

Following the incident, Howell was not allowed to fly back to London. He took an Uber back to the Aria where he stayed before the accident and was given a room in which he checked in at 10:12 PM on August 30, 2023. After the party that was supposed to meet the man in London didn’t see him arriving, they contacted the Aria. However, when he was found in the room around noon on the next day, the man had already passed away.