Accident victim’s children sue Aladdin

Sun Staff

Thursday, July 20, 2000 | 9:23 a.m.

The daughters of a 42-year-old welder who died in a construction accident at the Aladdin hotel-casino have filed a lawsuit in District Court claiming owners and contractors of the $1.3 billion gaming project disregarded safety standards.

The children of Stephan Abernethy also argue that the Aladdin and its contractors did not properly maintain equipment and were negligent in hiring people to operate the equipment, leading to the worker's April 1999 death.

Craig Mueller, the attorney for Abernethy's two daughters, could not be reached for comment. Aladdin Gaming spokesman Lynn Holt declined to comment, saying the company does not comment on pending lawsuits.

Abernethy, who had moved from Salt Lake City, was working on the Aladdin's 18th floor when five 12-foot-by-20-foot prefabricated concrete sections fell from five stories above him.

Abernethy, who was struck by the tumbling slabs and landed on the 16th floor, was not crushed but apparently died of a heart attack brought on by the trauma.

His daughters are seeking an unspecified dollar amount in connection with their father's death. They also are suing for damages stemming from emotional distress, negligent hiring, poor equipment maintenance, wrongful death and for funeral and lawyer's fees.

Abernethy was the fourth construction worker to lose his life on the Strip during a 15-month period. Three men died while building The Venetian.