A tragic incident involving a short-term rental has led to a lawsuit that raises serious questions about safety protocols and accountability in the vacation rental industry. Kenneth Kimpel, an Arizona resident, filed a complaint on January 24, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Airbnb, Inc., and Maria Victoria Cortes. The lawsuit stems from an alleged assault that occurred during Kimpel's stay at an Airbnb property owned by Cortes.
According to the complaint, Kimpel booked a short-term rental through Airbnb for June 17-18, 2023. The property was located at 820 S. Federal Highway #2 in Lake Worth, Florida. During his stay, Kimpel experienced issues with the smart lock system on the property’s front door. Despite multiple attempts to resolve these issues with Cortes via Airbnb messages, the door reportedly remained unlocked. This malfunction allegedly allowed Jonathan Dimming to enter the premises and assault Kimpel with a baseball bat.
The complaint details how Airbnb promotes itself as a safe platform for travelers but allegedly failed to ensure that its smart lock systems were functioning correctly. "AIRBNB's commitment to safety includes measures such as reviews and insurance," states the lawsuit. However, Kimpel argues that these measures were insufficient or improperly implemented in this case. He claims that both Airbnb and Cortes had actual or constructive knowledge of potential risks due to previous criminal activities in the area and should have taken additional precautions.
Kimpel is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related costs. The lawsuit accuses both defendants of negligence for failing to maintain a secure environment at the rental property. It also highlights alleged failures in communication regarding safety risks associated with malfunctioning smart locks.
Represented by attorney Jeffrey L Alexander from Juno Beach, Florida, Kimpel demands a jury trial to address these grievances. The Case ID is: 502025CA000640XXXAMB Div: AA.