The case involves guests exposed to carbon monoxide while staying at a hotel. The plaintiffs experienced loss of consciousness, bouts of diarrhea and vomiting while in their hotel room. Sensing something was wrong, they called 911. Upon arrival, the ambulance personnel tested the air for carbon dioxide that registered positive for carbon monoxide at dangerous levels. Test results concluded that the entire building was under negative pressure, causing carbon monoxide to leak through a cracked chimney in the hotel room. The plaintiff alleges that operating water heaters in a building under negative pressure can increase corrosion rates causing leaks to vent pipes allowing carbon monoxide gas to escape into the guest rooms. An expert in carbon monoxide was sought to opine on the issue.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1. Please discuss your experience in training maintenance personnel for large hotel chains.
2. What programs/training guides are available for ensuring a situation described in the case summary does not happen?
Expert Witness Response E-009427
As former Director of Services for Marriott hotels, I have extensive experience in training maintenance personnel for large hotel chains. While with Marriott, I received the Director of Services of the Year Award for the Northwest Region. I have concerns about the defendant's preventative maintenance policies. Most hotels have one or a couple of individuals who do preventative maintenance, with the expectation that each room is going to be checked at least once every month. The question here is whether the maintenance staff checked their equipment for appropriate operation and if staff were adequately trained.
About the author
Kristin Casler
Kristin Casler is a seasoned legal writer and journalist with an extensive background in litigation news coverage. For 17 years, she served as the editor for LexisNexis Mealey’s litigation news monitor, a role that positioned her at the forefront of reporting on pivotal legal developments. Her expertise includes covering cases related to the Supreme Court's expert admissibility ruling in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., a critical area in both civil and criminal litigation concerning the challenges of 'junk science' testimony.
Kristin's work primarily involves reporting on a diverse range of legal subjects, with particular emphasis on cases in asbestos litigation, insurance, personal injury, antitrust, mortgage lending, and testimony issues in conviction cases. Her contributions as a journalist have been instrumental in providing in-depth, informed analysis on the evolving landscape of these complex legal areas. Her ability to dissect and communicate intricate legal proceedings and rulings makes her a valuable resource in the legal journalism field.
