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Hotel And Event Hosts Sued By Family Of Girl Killed Sliding Down A Banister
On October 30, 2010, 23-year-old Megan Duskey fell to her death at a Halloween-themed ball at the Palmer House Hilton. The young elementary school teacher at Orville T. Bright Elementary School was attempting to slide down a banister when she fell four floors. Now, Duskey's family is claiming the girl's death was the fault of the "Haunted Hotel Ball" hosts, and are suing for more than $500,000.According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the family believes the event hosts allowed ticket-holders to consume an exorbitant amount of alcohol without supervision or protection. The ten-count suit, which was filed Tuesday, is naming Hilton Worldwide, the Palmer House Hilton, Surreal Chicago and Adrenaline Y2K as the hosts of the party.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office stated that Duskey was dead at the scene, ruling the death an accident.
While efforts on Tuesday night to reach Hilton Worldwide and Adrenaline Y2K were unsuccessful, CEO of Surreal Chicago, Brian Pfeiffer, declined to comment based on the fact Duskey's death occurred in the lobby of the hotel, and not while she was at the party.
[Image via NBC Chicago]
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Stories, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 23)
patrick Jul 27th 2012 10:29AM
Personal responsibility?
Zapdog4 Jul 27th 2012 12:19PM
Liberals do not believe in personal responsibility. She made a conscious decision to ride a bannister, something it is not designed for, and fell. That is on her. Can the families of people who jump from bridges to their death, be allowed to sue the City that owns the bridge? Or the contractor who built it?
Bekah Jul 27th 2012 12:14PM
Exactly! She is 23 years old!! I believe she should be old enough to know when she's had enough to drink! Wow, way to use your child's irrisponsible actions to gain a penny. Now if she was 15 and being served I could understand. This is ridiculous.
Barb Jul 27th 2012 12:21PM
I so agree. Why is it always someone else's fault when a human makes a bad decision. There are consequenses for our actions...I was taught that as a child!!!
Moudsie Jul 27th 2012 12:47PM
Oh stop it right now and stop lying about liberals -- you've got to stop listening to Rush and watching Faux News -- I am a liberal -- and if I was on a jury for this bogus case -- I vote not guilty--this is a woman in her 20s (who was probably drinking) and decided to do something stupid -- the hotel is not at fault -- she is/was. So again, get over blaming libs and put the blame where it belongs--with this girl/woman.
nb Jul 27th 2012 1:15PM
She was also 22 years old AND drinking....her own stupid, but tragic decision. I'd feel indescribably horrible if I were her parents.
Kim Jul 27th 2012 1:04PM
Don't give them any ideas! This is ridiculous.. I am sorry for their loss, but she wasn't forced to drink, nobody held a gun to her head and made her slide down the banister. Her death is the result of HER bad decisions.. Ughhh!!!!
Dawn Jul 27th 2012 1:50PM
Good point ---
Audrey, CA Jul 27th 2012 1:29PM
I agree completely with Zapdog (above) regarding these frivolous law suits! They all seem to have begun with that woman a few years ago who was driving her car while drinking hot coffee that she had purchased at a fast food joint and spilled on her lap and burned her crotch! This girl was young, beautiful and drunk, which is a bad combination because they do dumb things when drunk, especially young and drunk. I had a relative who was in that condition and when he saw a car leaving a parking lot, decided to ride the back bumper...he got a fractured skull, but his mother didn't know about law suits then. The family has my deepest sympathy, but not my respect if they pursue this law suit!!!!
Laurie Jul 27th 2012 9:37PM
I agree. Can you imagine her letting her students slide down a banister - no way. Some people think money is the panacea of all ills. How stupid.
Erger Jul 27th 2012 3:16PM
Yeah, lets make stupidity someone elses fault. I agree with lots of you that this is absolutely her fault, and no one elses. Im sorry for your loss parents, but get a brain and a life. Or perhaps you can sue the banister maker, or the stair company, or the floor company...
Its just hard to believe what people think they can sue for. Shame on anyone who wants to sue for something that they or someone else did carelessly. SHAME ON YOU! Are you that stupid and insecure that you need to make money off of people who did nothing wrong.
I want ENGLISH RULE, where if you try to sue for some questionable act or accident, and you lose, you pay for the lawyers AND GO TO JAIL! Its terrible terrible terrible that we let people make money on being irresponsible and careless.
Rich Jul 27th 2012 2:59PM
You shouldn't generalize about "liberals". THIS "liberal" totally believes in personal responsibility. The suit should be dismissed.
j M Jul 27th 2012 2:02PM
I'm a liberal and I think that the suit is frivolous and that the parents and daughter should take responsibility. Also, I like drunken hos and think our society needs more of them and less pseudo religous politicians. What say you homre?
cheryl Jul 27th 2012 8:07PM
"LIberals don't believe in personal responsibility"? That's the single most ignorant comment I've ever read in my entire liberal life! Have you personally interviewed every "liberal" in the freaking country to come to that monumental conclusion? Ridiculous.
DK Jul 27th 2012 2:31PM
Exactly. She was an adult and made the choice to get drunk. We all know banisters are not made for our amusement.
me Jul 27th 2012 3:11PM
get off it. i am not a conservative, but i do believe in personal responsibility. drunk or sober, who would jump on a bannister. that is why children should be supervised, but she was an "adult". sure parents are still grieving and I am sorry for their loss.
Michael Scot Jul 27th 2012 3:27PM
What is responsibility? It is something that must be shared by everyone. If the one case was true, perhaps, but lets break it down. When alcohol can be consumed near the location more safety precautions must be made. An example of a bridge was used. Most bridges make it nearly impossible to jump from because they are aware of a potential suicide. The second element involving alcohol consumption should have stimulated more of a concern for the safety of what could happen. Now has there ever been an incident or accident in this particular hotel from the bannister. This would show negligence.
Barbara Mercer Jul 27th 2012 3:28PM
If she had been a teen and underage, I could see how the hotel might be responsible. This was a grown woman and should be accoutable for the amount of drinks she had and the decision to slide down a bannister four flights up. Everyone wants their freedom to make decisions and then not take responsibility for the outcome.
Susan Jul 27th 2012 3:31PM
You actually had a well-thought out and reasoned response; there was no need to throw in a falsehood regarding liberals. Try editing yourself, next time.
B Jul 27th 2012 4:17PM
Where did this idiot ZAPDOG4 get the idea that this article involves "liberals"?