Published on: April 13, 2026, 04:57h.
Updated on: April 14, 2026, 09:20h.
- Family claims casino failed to provide footage following deadly elevator incident
- Individual left paralyzed by fall later succumbs to injuries
- Litigation alleges negligence despite ambiguous accident circumstances
The family of a man who became paralyzed and subsequently passed away following a fall at the Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada, asserts that the casino has been uncooperative in supplying relevant incident reports and security footage.
Now, the estate of the late Theodore “Ted” Webber is pursuing a negligence lawsuit against the Aquarius, even while admitting there is no clear understanding of what transpired.
On October 13, during a visit to the casino from his residence in Anthem, Arizona, Webber reportedly slipped and fell while leaving an elevator.
This fall resulted in severe injuries, leaving Webber a quadriplegic. He ultimately passed away from these injuries on November 3, as per the lawsuit filed on April 8 in Clark County District Court.
The ‘Irreplaceable Loss’
At 78 years old, Webber was a U.S. Army veteran and Princeton University alumnus, where he majored in biochemistry. For over four decades, he was employed by the Genuine Parts Company (NAPA) in Minnesota, as noted in his obituary published in The Minnesota Star Tribune.
His family characterized him as “one of a kind, a scholar, and a gentleman,” adding that his passing “creates an irreplaceable void.”
An unnamed elevator company is also listed as a defendant in the suit, with allegations of negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention.
The lawsuit invokes the legal principle of res ipsa loquitur — a Latin term meaning “the thing speaks for itself.” This doctrine enables plaintiffs to rely on circumstantial evidence when the precise cause of an accident remains unclear, particularly when the incident is typically not expected without some form of negligence.
In this case, the estate contends that a fall resulting in such devastating injuries while exiting an elevator suggests the existence of a hazardous condition or maintenance issue.
Unfolding Mystery
Daniel S. Simon, the attorney for the estate, informed The Las Vegas Review-Journal that Webber’s wife, Mary Miller, is still in the dark regarding the circumstances of the fall and desires clarity about the events leading to her husband’s paralysis and eventual death.
The estate is seeking over $2.5 million in medical, funeral, and associated expenses, along with an additional claim exceeding $15,000 for pain and suffering, disfigurement, emotional distress, and loss of life’s enjoyment.
The plaintiffs are also pursuing compensatory damages exceeding $15,000 for their grief, sorrow, loss of support, as well as legal fees and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Golden Entertainment, the resort’s operator, chose not to comment on the ongoing legal matter when approached by Casino.org.