Published on: December 30, 2024, 05:00h. 

Last revised on: December 30, 2024, 05:01h.

Abraham Williams informed his server at Beauty & Essex, a high-end restaurant at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, about his shellfish allergy when he ordered spaghettini with pesto sauce one evening last year. However, he was served shellfish, according to a lawsuit for wrongful death filed recently and initially reported by the Las Vegas Review Journal on Monday.

After one bite, Williams went into anaphylactic shock. He passed away on April 30, 2023, with his death certificate citing “food associated allergic reaction” as the cause of death.

The legal action, seeking unspecified damages, alleges that Williams received an “unsafe” meal containing “known allergens.” It accuses not only Beauty & Essex and the Cosmopolitan, but also the Clark County Fire Department and Community Ambulance, for contributing to Williams’ demise through negligent actions.

According to the lawsuit, even though staff at both the restaurant and the resort were trained in medical response, they failed to provide assistance when Williams was struggling to breathe after being taken outside by his friends who called 911.

Additionally, the suit claims that these employees prevented anyone from performing life-saving techniques by creating a barrier around Williams. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) reportedly started CPR and inserted an airway device upon arrival, but they allegedly did not administer oxygen promptly or intubate Williams correctly, allowing him to dislodge his air tube. Moreover, an EKG, which could have monitored his cardiac arrest correctly, was not conducted.

The lawsuit was filed by Christian Morris and Jamie McInelly in Clark County District Court on behalf of Williams’ parents, Kenneth and Rochelle Williams, and Angela Gaboury, the administrator of Williams’ estate.

Upon reaching the hospital, Williams experienced respiratory and cardiac arrest, and due to swelling, doctors were unable to re-intubate him. He was put on a ventilator, which his family later decided to remove, leading to his passing two days later at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

The lawsuit mentions that the plaintiffs continue to endure “grief and sorrow” due to the loss of Williams.