HOUSTON – A defective piece of exercise equipment caused a hotel guest’s workout to result in a personal injury lawsuit, recent Harris County District Court records show.
In court documents filed against ASDN Houston on Aug. 11 in the Harris County 55th District Court, Monroe Township, N.J., resident Luz Jaccoud says she stayed at the Crowne Plaza River Oaks Houston where she hurt her shoulder using a treadmill last November.
The suit explains that the treadmill had a sign which warned of a missing part and instructed users how to best operate it, stating the instructions were not prepared by a qualified maintenance technician.
Jaccoud adds the treadmill belt then broke unexpectedly causing the speed to rapidly increase.
“Jaccoud was unable to keep up with the pace, and urgently pressed the buttons to stop the machine as she tried to keep upright,” the original petition says. “Unfortunately, the negligently-maintained machine would not slow down. Jaccoud’s sister, Myriam, noticed that Jaccoud was in peril, and rushed over to assist her. Myriam pulled the emergency cord, but instead of stopping the treadmill, the cord merely broke off. Unable to keep up the pace, Jaccoud tried to grab the handlebars and escape. Unfortunately, the speed of the belt was too fast and she was thrown from the machine.”
Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by attorneys Daniel J. Goldberg and David Keenan Berk of The Goldberg Law Office, PLLC in Houston.
Harris County 55th District Court Case No. 2017-53664