A lawsuit filed this month alleges that a 72-year-old California man was fatally scalded by overheated water in a hotel shower. The case raises serious questions about safety standards in lodging-industry plumbing.
On May 22, veteran United States Marine Corps veteran Terril Wade Johnson, Sr. drove six hours from Los Angeles to San José with family for his granddaughter's graduation from San Jose State University. Instead of a celebration, tragedy struck at the Fairfield Inn & Suites San Jose Airport hotel when Johnson took a shower and family found him unresponsive.
The legal complaint contends that the shower water reached 134-136 °F (56-58 °C), far above California's plumbing code limit of 120 °F. The suit states that when Johnson's grandson entered the bathroom, the grandfather was partially submerged in water so hot that family members couldn't lift him without risking burn injuries themselves.
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Johnson suffered burns over more than 33 % of his body, contributing to his death. The lawsuit describes his skin peeling away in front of family members who attempted life-saving efforts.
According to the complaint, the hotel's management and parent company failed to inspect, regulate, or maintain the hot-water system despite industry standards and California law. Lawyers call this "gross negligence" and say the incident was preventable. Life remembered, liability underway
Johnson was a Vietnam war veteran, married for 54 years, with two children and four grandchildren. His family is seeking wrongful-death and emotional-distress damages, and the case is now in the courts in Santa Clara County.
This tragic incident underscores the hidden dangers of faulty hotel infrastructure and the heavy responsibility inns have to protect guests. With its stark allegations and tragic outcome, the lawsuit raises several red flags for guests and property operators alike.