A Kentucky motel has been ordered to pay $2 million to the family of a guest who died after taking a shower in excessively hot water.
Alex Chronis, 76, checked into the Econo Lodge in Erlanger, Kentucky, on November 18, 2021.
The following morning, while attempting to take a shower, he was "almost immediately bombarded with scalding hot water", according to court documents and testimony from the family’s attorney, Jeffrey Blankenship.
The scalding water knocked Chronis to the floor of the tub, "where the water continued to scald him", CNN reports.
His screams alerted two of his associates, who managed to pull him from the tub.
Chronis suffered from second- and third-degree burns due to the excessively hot water, and was hospitalized and treated for his injuries over around five months.
"The water temperature was so high it caused severe burns almost immediately," Blankenship explained. "Chronis endured deep-tissue burns and had to undergo multiple skin grafts."
The Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates that water temperatures above 150 degrees can cause third-degree burns within seconds.
Despite initial treatment and a temporary return to work, he required extensive medical care, including additional skin grafts. His condition worsened, leading to a prolonged hospital stay and eventual transfer to a rehabilitation facility in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, in April 2022.
His family says he endured "substantial conscious pain and suffering".
Tragically, Chronis died on June 19, 2022, as a result of his injuries.
In a wrongful death lawsuit - filed by Chronis’ niece - it was alleged that the Econo Lodge failed to maintain its facilities in a safe condition.
NBC News reports that photos of Chronis' legs - depicting severely damaged and discolored patches of skin - were shown as part of the case.
The jury found in favor of Chronis' estate, awarding $1,271,486.60 for medical expenses, $16,058.73 for funeral costs, $250,000 for pain and suffering, and $500,000 in punitive damages.
The court order, finalized earlier this month, also stipulated that the motel's owner, Sanjay Patel, "failed to exercise ordinary care in inspecting and maintaining their hotel rooms in a reasonably safe condition for the use of their guests."
In response to the verdict, Patel's defense argued that Chronis did not stay at the motel, though this claim was dismissed by the court. Attorneys for the defense have declined to comment further as they prepare for an appeal.
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