Beau Rivage Resorts sued for $950K after woman's heel becomes stuck in escalator

A Mississippi Casino is being sued for more than $950,000 after a patron's shoe became stuck in an escalator and as a result, the patron fell and suffered injuries.

Claiming pain and suffering and humiliation, Julie and Ned Gonzales filed a lawsuit against Beau Rivage Resorts Inc. on July 12 in federal court in New Orleans.

The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 26, 2010 as Julie Gonzales was attempting to descend an escalator located in the casino, when her heel became lodged in the moving stairs. She fell forward and was severely injured, the lawsuit claims.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to maintain the escalator, for maintaining the escalator in an unreasonable dangerous condition which presented an unreasonably hazard to the patrons of the casino and failing to timely and regularly inspect the escalator in question in order to discover the defects and/or hazardous conditions.

The plaintiff is seeking more than $950,000 in damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, embarrassment and inconvenience, mental anguish, disability, loss of earning capacity, interest, court costs and attorney's fees.

Gonzales is represented by Jim S. Hall and Joseph W. Rausch of Jim S. Hall & Associates in Metairie.

U.S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-01629