$30M Injury Award Against Hilton Cut to $10M

In a recent case, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. faced a lawsuit after a defective bathroom door severely injured a hotel guest. Kim Curtis, who stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park, sustained serious spinal and knee injuries when a “barn door” fell on her. These sliding doors, installed in numerous guest rooms, were known by hotel management to be faulty, with reports of broken handles and wheels that could cause them to detach from their tracks. The hotel’s failure to address these safety issues led Curtis to seek compensatory and punitive damages for her injuries.

In May 2024, a federal jury awarded Curtis $2.1 million in compensatory damages for her medical expenses and lost wages, alongside $30 million in punitive damages as a deterrent against Hilton’s conduct. The significant punitive award reflected the jury's response to the hotel’s apparent disregard for guest safety despite documented concerns.

The Court’s Decision to Reduce Damages

U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos subsequently addressed the punitive damages award, ultimately agreeing with Hilton’s post-trial motion to reduce it. Judge Ramos acknowledged that while Hilton’s conduct was “reprehensible,” the $30 million punitive damages award was disproportionately high when compared to compensatory damages. Citing precedent cases, including a crane collapse in New York that resulted in death, the judge found that Hilton’s negligence, while severe, did not reach the same level as cases involving fatalities. Ramos reduced the punitive award to $10 million, creating a five-to-one ratio between punitive and compensatory damages, which he deemed more fitting to the case’s facts.

According to Ramos, Hilton’s behavior demonstrated a “reckless disregard for the health and safety of hotel guests.” He underscored that the hotel had documentation of numerous complaints regarding the doors, yet failed to remedy the issue for over a year. “Curtis suffered devastating injuries as a result of the hotel defendants' negligence,” Ramos stated, describing how Curtis faced a prolonged recovery, multiple surgeries, and the likelihood of ongoing medical needs due to Hilton’s inaction.

Arguments Over Future Pain and Suffering

While the court reduced punitive damages, Judge Ramos upheld the jury’s original award of $1 million for Curtis’s future pain and suffering. Hilton had argued that this amount was excessive compared to other cases with similar injuries, where awards for future suffering were significantly lower. However, Judge Ramos countered that Curtis’s projected medical interventions justified the award. The judge explained that Curtis would require a spinal implant, potential follow-up surgeries, and multiple knee procedures, which the jury appropriately took into account.

Ramos noted that while Hilton referenced cases where future pain and suffering awards were capped around $500,000, those cases involved less severe or fewer ongoing medical needs. In Curtis’s case, her long-term prognosis necessitated greater compensation to address her expected challenges and ongoing care requirements.

What’s Next?

The reduction in punitive damages leaves Curtis with a choice: she may accept the revised $10 million punitive damages award or pursue a new trial specifically on punitive damages. This decision must be made by November 11, according to the court’s order. Hilton has not indicated whether it plans to appeal the reduced punitive award, which, while decreased, still represents a substantial penalty for the company’s conduct.

Hilton’s legal representation included attorneys from Jones Day, with Traci L. Lovitt, Leon F. DeJulius Jr., and Aaron M. Healey leading the defense. Curtis’s legal team consisted of Shannon M. Pennock of Pennock Law Firm LLC, Jonathan D. Sneed of Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner, and James C. Tecce and David Cooper of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.

Implications for Future Cases

The outcome of this case and the court’s modification of punitive damages provide a potential benchmark for future negligence lawsuits against hotel chains and other establishments. In cases where punitive damages are deemed excessive, defendants may seek reductions by drawing comparisons to similar or more severe incidents. At the same time, the decision underscores that punitive damages are still appropriate in cases where companies knowingly ignore safety risks, especially when guest welfare is compromised.

Hilton’s case highlights the importance of proactive maintenance and safety monitoring, particularly when recurring issues are documented by both staff and guests. Going forward, this ruling may prompt companies in the hospitality sector to prioritize guest safety more rigorously to mitigate liability and avoid punitive measures.

Law Firms Involved

For the plaintiff, Kim Curtis was represented by a team including Shannon M. Pennock of Pennock Law Firm LLC, Jonathan D. Sneed of Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner, and James C. Tecce and David Cooper of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. This group provided Curtis with comprehensive legal support throughout her case, focusing on Hilton's responsibility for guest safety.

On the defense side, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. was represented by Jones Day attorneys Traci L. Lovitt, Leon F. DeJulius Jr., and Aaron M. Healey. Their defense strategy included challenging the amount of the punitive damages award, successfully securing a reduction from $30 million to $10 million in court.