Former waiter sues Crown Resorts over lung cancer

Former Mahogany Room waiter at Crown Casino Melbourne, Dien Nguyen, is suing Crown Resorts for negligence, alleging that his six-year tenure in the VIP room led to his metastatic lung cancer diagnosis. Nguyen attributes his condition to prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke from high-rolling patrons, primarily cigar and cigarette enthusiasts, in the Mahogany Room, as reported by Melbourne’s Herald-Sun.

Victoria had banned indoor smoking in public spaces in July 2007, but Crown’s high roller rooms secured a controversial exemption, remaining the only indoor public places where smoking was permitted in the state until around two years ago.

Nguyen’s lawsuit argues that Crown was negligent for permitting smoking in the workplace without adequate measures for testing, assessing health risks, or providing proper ventilation. The lawsuit also alleges that the operator failed to inform its staff about the potential risks, despite receiving complaints and notifications about employees developing lung diseases linked to smoke exposure in the Mahogany Room before 2017.

Nguyen maintains that Crown should have recognized the risk of serious lung diseases among its employees and is seeking damages, interest, and costs through a jury trial. He anticipates incurring significant medical expenses and relying on his wife’s care in the future.

Crown Resorts has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, following their policy.

The Mahogany Room, with its exclusive memberships, was described by an insider in 2016 as a place where “every second person is a smoker.” Despite its opulence, the source found it concerning that such an environment was allowed to persist due to the substantial tax revenue generated by the casino, leading to exemptions in smoking legislation.

Nguyen’s lawsuit highlights the potential health consequences and legal repercussions of allowing smoking in enclosed public spaces, particularly when exemptions are granted.

Original story by: Casino.org