Family Files Lawsuit Over Motel Mix-Up

The survivor of a carbon monoxide incident at an Ocean City (Md.) motel in 2006 has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the city and two city EMS workers, saying her husband and young daughter died because of negligence. Yvonne Boughter was staying at the Days Inn motel with her husband and two children, when they were overcome by carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning water heater in the motel basement. Boughter dialed 911 to report that the family was vomiting and feeling ill, and gave her room number. However, arriving EMS units failed to investigate the family’s room, instead going to the motel room of another family who had called from the motel 15 minutes earlier. The Boughters were not found until four hours later, when Yvonne Boughter woke up a second time from her stupor and dialed 911. By then, her husband and daughter were dead. The lawsuit asks for $20 million in damages. Download (pdf) a copy of the lawsuit here.