A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against a Mexican resort hotel after a tragic incident during her vacation led to the death of her husband and left her critically injured. Lizzette Zambrano’s lawsuit, filed on June 14, accuses several companies associated with the Sonoran Sea Resort in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, of negligence.
Fatal Electrocution Incident at Sonoran Sea Resort
Lizzette Zambrano and her husband, Jorge Guillen, both from El Paso, Texas, were enjoying their vacation at the Sonoran Sea Resort when the tragedy occurred on June 11. The couple was using a jacuzzi near the resort’s common pool area when they were suddenly electrocuted. Guillen died at the scene, while Zambrano was critically injured and later revived before being transported to a hospital in the U.S., where she remains in critical condition.
The wrongful death lawsuit names Casago, LLC., Casago International, LLC., and High Desert Travel, LLC. as defendants. The case was filed in El Paso district court, and the defendants have yet to list any attorneys. Zambrano is seeking over $1 million in damages for the incident, alleging gross negligence on the part of the resort operators.
Allegations of Negligence and Unsafe Conditions
The lawsuit details how Zambrano and Guillen, excited to start their vacation, decided to spend time in the common pool area. Upon entering the jacuzzi, Guillen was immediately exposed to an electrical current, causing him to collapse and fall underwater. Zambrano attempted to rescue her husband but was also shocked upon touching the water, causing her to fall into the jacuzzi as well. Onlookers tried to help using various tools, but the metal objects conducted the electrical current, shocking the rescuers too.
According to the lawsuit, it took resort staff 10 minutes to respond to the incident. During this time, neither Guillen nor Zambrano received any assistance from the resort staff, and the emergency shutoff for the jacuzzi was not engaged. The lawsuit states that Guillen was electrocuted and drowned underwater for 10 minutes before help arrived. The faulty electrical wiring in the jacuzzi, which had not been repaired by the resort’s staff, is cited as the primary cause of the tragedy. There were no warnings or signs alerting guests to the potential danger, which the lawsuit claims constituted a dangerous condition posing an unreasonable risk of harm to the guests.
Seeking Justice and Compensation for Devastating Loss
The lawsuit argues that the defendants had a duty to ensure the safety of their guests and that their failure to properly maintain the premises directly led to the incident. It highlights the personal qualities of Jorge Guillen, describing him as a loving, compassionate, and attentive father and husband. His death has left Zambrano and their children deprived of his guidance, support, and companionship.
Zambrano is demanding that the defendants pay for Guillen’s pain and suffering, lost earnings, and the family’s mental anguish. The lawsuit also seeks compensation for medical, funeral, and burial expenses. Additionally, the attorneys request a restraining order to prevent the defendants from altering or destroying any evidence related to the jacuzzi involved in the incident.
“There is no reason this should have happened,” said Tej Paranjpe, a Houston trial attorney representing Zambrano. “Hotels and resorts have to ensure guest safety. At no point did resort staff think to engage an emergency shut-off, not to mention warn guests of a faulty, dangerous amenity.”