A hotel guest's stay turned into a nightmare when he slipped and fell in his bathroom due to a leaking toilet, leading to a lawsuit against a major international hotel chain. On December 17, 2024, John Hicks filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Marriott International, Inc., doing business as Residence Inn by Marriott.
The incident occurred on December 13, 2023, at the Residence Inn by Marriott located at 455 Hibiscus Street in West Palm Beach. John Hicks was staying at the hotel as a business invitee when he encountered what he describes as an unreasonably dangerous condition—a wet floor caused by leaking plumbing in his bathroom. According to the complaint, Marriott had a duty to maintain safe premises for its guests and failed to do so. The lawsuit accuses Marriott of negligence for not warning Hicks about the slippery conditions or remedying them despite allegedly having actual or constructive knowledge of the danger.
Hicks claims that Marriott was negligent in several ways: failing to warn him about the hazardous condition, not fixing the leak promptly, neglecting proper maintenance and inspections of their facilities, and allowing such conditions to persist where guests would inevitably encounter them. As a result of this negligence, Hicks alleges he suffered various injuries including pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, and incurred medical expenses for treatment. The injuries are described as permanent within reasonable medical probability.
In his lawsuit, Hicks is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from Marriott International. He demands judgment for these damages and has requested a trial by jury to resolve his claims. This case highlights significant concerns regarding hotel safety standards and responsibilities towards guests.
Representing John Hicks is attorney Lake H. Lytal III from Lytal, Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath based in West Palm Beach. The case has been filed under Case Number 502024CA011871XXXAMB.