The family of a man who died in Las Vegas after accidentally eating shellfish — despite telling the restaurant of his severe allergies — is suing the Beauty & Essex eatery at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.
Abraham Williams died days after eating the spaghettini with pesto sauce at Beauty & Essex in April 2023. The lawsuit says he told staff about his allergens, and was assured the dish was safe for him to eat.
Williams’ family also claim in the lawsuit that Cosmopolitan staff and Las Vegas-based medical operator Community Ambulance did not administer proper care and attention to the stricken victim, and if they had, he could have lived. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $15K plus legal and medical fees.
The Incident
In April 2024, Williams was on vacation in Las Vegas with his family. While lunching at the Beauty & Essex restaurant inside the MGM-run Cosmopolitan Las Vegas casino resort, he ordered the pesto spaghettini dish.
The lawsuit says he told staff that he was allergic to shellfish prior to ordering and they informed him that the dish did not contain that potential allergen.
Pesto sauce doesn’t call for shellfish in normal recipes. But some commercial suppliers use small amounts of fish sauce – often with traces of shellfish – in pesto sauces.
Williams reportedly went into anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction, after just one bite of the food. He briefly left the table and went to the restaurant’s bathroom. His concerned family then called 911 and carried him out of the venue.
The lawsuit says that once outside, Cosmopolitan staff not only didn’t help properly, but actively created a barrier around Williams which prevented bystanders offering assistance from entering.
When paramedics arrived, emergency procedures were not enough to save him, and Williams was taken to Sunrise Hospital, east of the Las Vegas Strip. There, doctors were forced to put him on a ventilator.
After speaking with medical staff, Williams’ family made the decision to take him off the ventilator. Two days later, he died at the local Nathan Adelson Hospice.
The Lawsuit
Christian Morris Trial Attorneys are representing William’s family in the lawsuit. It names Beauty & Essex Las Vegas, the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and medical provider Community Ambulance as defendants.
It alleges that Beauty & Beast and Cosmopolitan staff did not follow their emergency incident training, and instead unintentionally hindered efforts that may have saved Williams’ life.
The lawsuit also blames paramedics from the Community Ambulance service. It says the first responders did not correctly intubate Williams’ throat at the scene, which the doctors at Sunrise Hospital could not fix.
“On information and belief, Decedent suffered respiratory arrest while at Defendant Cosmopolitan and Defendant Beauty & Essex’s premises and due to the time elapsed until medical treatment was provided, Decedent suffered severe brain damage and eventual death,” the lawsuit reads.
The suit alleges wrongful death that could have been prevented at multiple stages as events unfolded. It says Williams’ family are continuing to suffer emotional damages from the incident, leading to loss of earnings in their careers.
The lawsuit seeks $15,000 in damages, minimum, plus medical and legal costs. It is not the only recent wrongful death lawsuit to be filed against a Las Vegas Strip casino resort.
Aria Las Vegas is facing a lawsuit from the family of a British tourist who died from diabetes complications while staying at the resort. Meanwhile MGM’s Excalibur Las Vegas is being sued by the family of a Canadian man who died after he slipped and fell into one of the resort’s swimming pools.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
