Thank You, Sir, Come Again

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (CN) - A man who broke two ribs and toes on both feet falling in a hotel shower claims in court that Wyndham Vacation Resorts refused to take him to the hospital until he took a "tour of the defendants' facilities."

William Hughes and his wife sued Wyndham Vacation Resorts and Collier Development Co. in Federal Court.

The Hugheses claim the fiasco happened in June 2011, when they were guests at a Wyndham Vacation Resorts property in Sevierville, Tenn. To begin with, they say, the defendants put them in a non-handicapped room, though they had asked for a handicapped room.

William needs a special shower chair, with handrails, but the defendants just put a regular metal chair in the shower, with no handrails, the complaint states.

The complaint continues: "However, due to the fact that the metal chair was not intended for or designed to be used in the shower, the chair slipped out from underneath Mr. Hughes, causing him to fall onto the floor of the shower.

"As a result of the negligence of defendants in not providing a specialized shower chair, plaintiff broke toes on both of his feet and broke two (2) ribs.

"As a condition of their stay, plaintiffs were required to participate in a tour of the defendants' facilities.

"When plaintiffs reported the injuries to agents of defendants the following morning, defendants required Mr. Hughes to go on a tour of the facilities instead of immediately sending him to the hospital.

"As a result of defendants' negligence, plaintiff William Hughes has suffered and continues to suffer injuries to his person."

The Hugheses seek punitive damages for negligence, gross negligence and loss of consortium. They are represented by Rebecca Vernetti with Family Law, of Knoxville.

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