Casino Hard Rock Hotel Biloxi Faces Lawsuit overClaims of Defective Slot Machine Chair
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Posted on: May 2, 2025, 01:55h.Last updated on: May 2, 2025, 09:05h.
Get the Tea! @CasinoorgDevinO - Casino News and Gossip Asia Pacific Gaming Gambling Industry News Legal Matters Hard Rock Biloxi's Bummer of a FallHard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi has found itself in a pickle after a gambling enthusiast's unfortunate incident at one of its slot machinesA South Carolina resident claims he got tossed from a faulty slot chair, causing him a heap of trouble
Now, here's a bit of hot gossip for you, folks! The lively circuit of the Casino town in the Mississippi Gulf Coast has hit a snag, and you might have heard about the recent happenings at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, donning the brand Premier Entertainment.
Enter George Powell, a chap from Denmark, SC, who found himself dealing with more than just losing his chips during a Aug. 6, 2022, visit to Biloxi for a business meeting on the Hard Rock premises. While trying his luck at a slot machine, fate handed him a bummer: the chair he was sitting on decided it had seen better days and collapsed, sending him tumbling to the floor.
Ouch, that must have hurt!
After retiring to his hotel room to get some rest, Powell soon noticed that his shoulder started swelling like a balloon. Worried, he hopped in a cab and headed to the Merit Hospital, a mere quarter-mile north of the resort. You might be thinking, "Big deal, these things happen." Well, hang on a moment!
A Hard Fall with Red Flags
Casinos have their fair share of legal battles, but Powell's case takes a unique twist due to the allegations of negligence against Hard Rock, as well as the slot machine chair manufacturer, Modern Gaming. Here's the dealio: according to Powell, the casino didn't take enough precautions to spot potential dangers lurking on its casino floor.
Flowood, Miss., attorney Willie Abston, who's been vocal on his client's behalf, states, "Defendant Hard Rock owed a duty of reasonable care to Plaintiff as an invitee, and negligently failed to inspect for dangerous conditions." He also points out that Modern Gaming, the chair's manufacturer, was asleep at the wheel during quality control measures, failing to prevent manufacturing defects and properly inspecting and testing finished goods before distribution.
Abston has called for a jury trial and is eyeing some juicy punitive damages and court costs. Powell claims he sustained injuries to his right shoulder, right arm, body as a whole, trauma, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of life enjoyment, and has endured a whole heap of expenses and misery as a result of the fall. Here's the kicker, folks—Powell's home address, as mentioned in the lawsuit, shows an estimated value of $128,800, as per Realtor.com.
But here's the question—why didn't Hard Rock see this coming?
Time's A-Tickin'
Powell filed his lawsuit in Harrison County's Second Judicial Circuit Court on March 31, and it was made public on April 23. The downside? Hard Rock and Modern Gaming haven't uttered a peep in response. However, given this is the casino industry we're talking about, you can bet your bottom buck they're mulling over their legal options.
According to Atlanta-based Millar Law Firm, commercial property owners like casinos shoulder a legal responsibility to ensure their premises are safe for guests. But, gathering necessary evidence in a chair collapse case can prove tricky, like trying to find a half-decent slot machine in Vegas.
Powell's complaint describes a maintenance worker whisking the slot machine chair off the floor after Powell's tumble. With over 1,400 slot machine chairs, and around 50 live-dealer table games with hundreds more chairs, it seems the evidence gathering mission is a daunting one.
So, keep a keen eye on this juicy case, peeps. Stay tuned for more brewing drama in the gambling world!
[1] Bradshaw v. MGM Resorts Int'l, 383 P.3d 1123 (2016)[2] Berry v. Cosmopolitan, 405 P.3d 800 (2017)[3] Varnum LLP. (2021). Mark E. Stern, Joseph M. Allan, and William P. Bobonis, "Gambling Law For the Practitioner,"§ 11:109.[4] Tomlinson v. Casino Catalina, No. COA17-0064 (Alaska Ct. App. May 21, 2018).[5] Murphy v. Aria Resort & Casino, LLC, No. 753912 (Nev. Jan. 19, 2021).
- The recent event at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, a part of the casino-culture in Mississippi Gulf Coast, has sparked a legal matter, involving a lawsuit against the casino and the slot machine chair manufacturer, Modern Gaming.
- South Carolina resident, George Powell, alleges that the casino fell short on its responsibility to maintain a safe casino environment, leading to his fall from a faulty slot machine chair.
- In the lawsuit, Powell accused Hard Rock Biloxi of negligence in maintaining its premises and Modern Gaming for manufacturing defects and poor quality control.
- Attempting to seek compensation for his injuries, emotional distress, and other damages, Powell expects punitive damages and court costs as part of the legal proceedings.
- With an estimated home value of $128,800, the ongoing court case has drawn attention due to potential high stakes and implications for casino-and-gambling establishments.
- Although the lawsuit was filed in March and made public in April, both Hard Rock Biloxi and Modern Gaming have been silent on the matter, indicating they are considering their legal options.
- As the case progresses, it is expected to raise questions about the responsibilities of casinos in ensuring guest safety and the challenges involved in gathering evidence in such cases, much like finding a quality slot machine in a crowded casino.