Flamingo Las Vegas Sued After ‘Foot Mangled in Escalator’

•  Lawsuit alleges escalator malfunction caused severe foot injuries
•  Plaintiff claims Flamingo and Schindler failed safety obligations
•  Past Strip incidents highlight ongoing escalator safety concerns

A California resident is suing the Flamingo Las Vegas and escalator giant Schindler Elevator Corp., claiming an escalator malfunction severely mangled his foot.

The lawsuit, filed September 2 in Clark County District Court, accuses the defendants of negligence and faulty training practices. It seeks damages above $15,000, according to court records reviewed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Both companies declined or did not respond to requests for comment from the newspaper.

Plaintiff Scotty Southwell says the accident occurred on October 7, 2023, when he was a guest at the Flamingo. In his complaint, Southwell describes his foot becoming “trapped within the stairwell of the escalator.”

The plaintiff alleges a malfunction forced the unfortunate limb into the moving parts, causing “serious and substantial injuries” that required emergency treatment and ongoing care.

When Escalators Go Wrong

While escalator injuries are rare, they typically occur at two points: where the moving steps meet the comb plate at the landing, and along the skirt panels on either side. These are the narrow gaps that keep steps moving smoothly but can also snag shoes, clothing, or, in this case, the plaintiff’s foot.

Modern escalators are fitted with safeguards – automatic shutoffs designed to trigger when something wedges into the wrong place.

Southwell’s complaint does not specify which component failed, but his lawyers argue both the property operator and Schindler had a duty to inspect, repair, and warn about hazards before guests were put at risk.

A History of Safety Concerns

The Strip has seen escalator mishaps before. In 2009, a crowded escalator at Caesars Palace suddenly jolted and sent 12 people to the hospital, prompting questions about inspection standards on one of the world’s busiest pedestrian corridors.

Schindler has also faced previous lawsuits, including from John Deatherage, who was in an elevator at Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino when it suddenly dropped and came to a violent stop.

In July 2018, a jury found the company negligent and awarded Deatherage $2 million in compensatory damages.

Elevator Plunge

Schindler is also facing a lawsuit filed in March this year from a woman who was in an elevator at the Palms Casino Resort when it plunged 22 stories, causing injuries to her “bodily limbs, organs, and nervous systems,” according to the complaint.

In the US, escalators and elevators cause approximately 30 deaths and 17,000 injuries annually, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most of these involve maintenance workers rather than passengers.