Children sue over worker’s death

Friday, July 21, 2000 | 10:49 a.m.

The children of Stephen Abernethy, an ironworker who died in April 1999 on the job at the Aladdin hotel-casino construction site, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Aladdin Gaming LLC, project contractor Fluor Daniel Inc. and 14 subcontractors.

In a Clark County District Court suit, Monica Abernethy and her sister Felicia Serrato alleged their father's death was caused by the defendants' negligence and failure to take adequate safety measures to protect its workers.

Craig Mueller, the plaintiffs' attorney said: "My clients told me they heard Abernethy was on the 23rd floor when a crane that was setting a precast concrete slab in place across the deck knocked into a slab he was standing on, caused it to break, or knocked it loose, and he fell five stories to his death."

Aladdin Gaming officials weren't immediately available for comment. Another lawsuit over his death was filed against Aladdin Gaming, Fluor Daniel and Tishman Construction Corp. of Nevada in August 1999 by Abernethy's fiancee, Bonnie Jo Fuller-Abernethy.

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