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Friday, Jan. 15, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
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Monte Carlo Burns
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Smoke engulfs the Las Vegas skyline as the Monte Carlo burned for about an hour Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. Las Vegas and Clark County firefighters were able to contain the three-alarm fire that touched off on the top floors of the 32-story resort. At least seven people were injured in the nearly full 3,002-room hotel — the 13th largest in Las Vegas.
A Florida woman who was staying at the Monte Carlo when a fire broke out in January 2008 is suing the resort for damages, according to a lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court earlier this week.
Jean Bartoli claims the actions of the Monte Carlo on the day of the fire caused her serious and permanent injuries. She is suing the resort for damages in excess of $30,000.
Bartoli claims in the lawsuit that the Monte Carlo failed to "plan, design, control, supervise, repair, clean and maintain" the resort, resulting in the fire. The lawsuit alleges that the resort took little or no measures to control the fire and warn guests of it.
Once the fire was discovered, guests, including Bartoli, were taken to an area away from the resort and told to remain there until further notice, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit claims that Bartoli and others were subjected to smoke, fumes and other toxins from the fire.
Bartoli's lawyers did not return a call Thursday afternoon for more details about the claims made in the lawsuit.
MGM Mirage spokeswoman Yvette Monet said, "We have not yet been served with the lawsuit, and so we are unable to comment on it."
Fire Department and OSHA reports concluded that sparks from welding on the roof caused the Jan. 25, 2008, fire on the facade and upper floors of the hotel. A lawyer for the company involved in the work disputed those reports. The fire did an estimated $80 million damage.
I can't wait to see what others comment on this article.
Ridiculous! frivolous lawsuit. This woman and her lawyers are just trying to cash in.MGM/Mirage's lawyers will stamp her out. Now the thirteen people who sustained real and documented injuries might have a case..
wow - it took this long to file a law suit - i would have been at the lawyers the next day - should be for more dollars $$$$
The only ones that will make money on this one is the predatory lawyers. Stupid is as stupid does.
The American way, sue someone. There is always an attorney someplace that will take a suit like this since it involves deep pockets.
Wonder why things cost what they do? Just look at those suing to get by in life.
So let me get this right as per the article itself "Once the fire was discovered, guests, including Bartoli, were taken to an area away from the resort and told to remain there until further notice, the lawsuit says." Oooookay, that sounds about right....That's what any business should do for it's clientelle, get them away from possible danger!
"The lawsuit claims that Bartoli and others were subjected to smoke, fumes and other toxins from the fire." Again, ooookay...THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN A FIRE! This woman is wasting tax payer money filing this frivolous suit. The people who really sustained serious injuries (and likely there were a few) are the only ones who should be considering seeing a lawyer. She's a jerk, and so is her ambulance chaser of a lawyer it seems. Sue away America! Sue away!
Hey, Why play the machines when you can play the legal system!
Yes, the legal system is a much better bet. Monte Carlo will settle just to make her go away because the court case will cost even more than $30,000.
Chancer
If someone really received serious and permanent injuries they would be suing for far more than 30K. She, and her upstanding cadre of attorneys, are loking for a quick negotiated settlement.
I was stuck on the Interstate watching the fire that day.
The fire was on the roof of the hotel and did not affect any rooms on the top floors until the hotel was empty, well after the fire started.
What? Was this woman sunbathing on the roof AC system with the welders who were working?
There were no serious injuries at all in the fire. It was on the roof near the AC systems and eventually it affected the top rooms long long after the rooms were empty.
To follow ATVDAD - hopefully they give her the room that she was in - maybe the second fire will do her good. =)
This is definitely a frivolous lawsuit. These types of people are why this country is in the terrible shape it is. Greedy people will do anything for a buck especially if they can get it without having to work for it. How much you wanna bet that the lawyer is handling this without payment in advance.
I don't see anything about who she retained.
Good to see someone standing up to the casino bullies who repeatedly endanger lives with shoddy construction, shoddy maintenance, and shoddy business practices. Just look at all the cost-cutting at CityCenter -- same MGM folks. Look at what Harrah's did to save a few bucks, endangering thousands of visitors. See http://www.thebeargrowls.com/?p=602 for a quick recap if you've already forgotten.
All these casino bosses know is getting hit in the wallet. Nothing else will get them to conduct their businesses in an ethical and honest manner. I hope this woman and her lawyers get millions. Then maybe Jim Murren and his ilk will wake up and improve their business practices.
I agree Vegaslee & environprotecotr... Ridiculous and people really do need to get a grip...
I agree with another post as she did kind of wait awhile before filing the lawsuit and I think she is just trying to get money. That fire was so minamal compared to the MGM fire in 1980 in which I was in an a frightened 15 year old at the time. Almost 30 years later Iam still nervous about fires.
Nope, they wont settle with her. That would just invite more copycat lawsuits.
Considering she is the ONLY one filing any type of suit, the chances of it getting thrown out are good. Lawyers take these cases on a contingency basis. If she gets nothing, the lawyer gets nothing.
I remember that fire too. No one was injured. Everyone was evacuated and it looked worse than what it was from the news reports. And like someone said - what was she doing? Hanging out on the roof so as to be effected by the smoke????? She is just looking for the money she lost when the slot machines shut down!
Oh, my bad. I wasn't sure but it seems NO ONE was actually hurt in this fire because it was mostly on the roof? Oh, yes, well then of course this woman should file a lawsuit! I hope the judge tosses her and her lawyer out on their ears!
This woman wouldn't happen to be out of work by any chance at this time now would she? What physical injuries did she sustain? Why wait so long? The smoke was in the air, not on the ground. When she was taken away from the fire, the only way to go is down! And smoke rises...I think there is something more toxic than the air in this story. Let me guess, I'll bet she is driving right now with a hot cup of coffee in between her legs too.
A smart judge will toss this,...but do we have any smart judges?
libertarians think breathing toxic smoke is a good thing
i think I will sue her for having read this. I lost 5 IQ points.
I had reservations at Palace Station the day after their fire. Had to make other plans. Should I have sued for the inconvenience?
Now the people who were at the old MGM (now Bally's) when they had their fire certainly deserved something and probably got it. After all, many died that night. But I don't see where anyone evacuating the MC, even if they did take in a little smoke (most likely very little, if any) were damaged in any way. The Monte Carlo should be thanked by those who were evacuated, preventing another MGM from happening.
I wonder - why did it take her so long to sue? She probably smokes a pack a day, went to her doctor who told her she has lung cancer and someone said - "hey you can blame that on the Monte Carlo fire" and a dimmed light bulb went off in her head and here we are.
Did she call Glen Lerner?
You have a better chance winning on a lawsuit than the slot machines.
Enough said: "Call ED".
SNIFF....SNIFF.... I SMELL A FREAKN LAWSUIT !!!$30,000 is too round a number...how did her lawyer settle on that number?
She must be a brain washed 12-stepper cultist,... wait no,
MGM is running the cult. Maybe the AA caused the fire in the first place.
Personal injury plaintiffs generally can prove more damages by waiting almost to the end of the staturtory permissible filing period. It takes time for some medical conditions such as exposure to toxins or trauma from a car accident to be confirmed as chronic, and time for the bills to pile up needed for treatment. People who rush to court, are ill advised. Wait till you really know for certain what the consequences are of your injuries. (You also get to rehearse you sick act longer.)
I got rear-ended and took the brunt of the impact which also caused my car to tap the rear of the car in front. I went to small claims court within a few months and didn't accumulate many bills--kind of just "toughed it out." The lady in front of me that I tapped lightly comes in at the last minute almost two years later with a tale of horror about nervous traumma and a suitcase full of receipts from doctors visits. I got $3,800. She got the court's maximum award--$7,500.