Crown Melbourne's Mahogany Room Server Files Lawsuit Over Lung Cancer Allegations
Fired Waiter Accuses Crown Casino of Negligence over Secondhand Smoke
Dien Nguyen, a former employee of Melbourne's proud Crown Casino, is taking the establishment to court. Nguyen spent six years working in the elite Mahogany Room and has been diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. He believes this deadly disease stemmed from prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke emanating from high rollers' cigars and cigarettes in the Mahogany Room. According to Melbourne's Herald-Sun, this damning allegation has been made public.
The Smoky Elephant in the Room: Exemption for High Roller Rooms
Although Victoria outlawed smoking within indoor public areas as of July 2007, the high roller rooms at Crown Casino were granted an exception. Consequently, they became the lone indoor public places in the state that allowed smoking. To this day, all areas at Crown have been smoke-free for approximately two years. The lawsuit states, "During the Crown work, patrons of the Mahogany Room were permitted to smoke cigarettes and cigars pursuant to an exemption from relevant Victorian anti-smoking laws."
Negligence Accusations and Lack of Ventilation
Nguyen claims that Crown Resorts showed a callous disregard for its staff's health by permitting smoking in the workplace without testing smoke levels, investigating health risks, or providing adequate ventilation. The lawsuit also alleges that Crown failed to alert its employees regarding potential hazards. Court documents mention recurring complaints and warnings about employees contracting lung cancer or severe lung diseases due to smoke inhalation within the Mahogany Room. Nguyen argues that Crown should have been aware of the risks he was facing.
Pursuing Justice: Trial by Jury and Damages
Nguyen is determined to face a jury trial, seeking compensation, interests, and costs from Crown. He fears that he will incur future medical and nursing expenses and relies on his wife's care. Crown Resorts, adhering to their standard policy, declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
Membership within the Mahogany Room embraces Black, Platinum, and Gold members. Patrons must spend A$30,000 (US$20,000) over a six-month period to attain Platinum status, with Black status attained by invitation. Regardless of its prestigious reputation, an anonymous source revealed in 2016 that the room bore a persistent smoke smell due to the high number of smokers within. The disgruntled insider criticized legislature that enabled smoking in the room, as it generated substantial revenue for the crown.
Smoking exemptions are common in high roller rooms, catering to wealthy gamblers and maintaining an allure of luxury.Proper ventilation is crucial in smoking areas to diminish the concentration of harmful pollutants. Despite the presence of advanced ventilation systems, health risks associated with secondhand smoke remain a concern, especially in confined spaces like the Mahogany Room.
If Nguyen's lawsuit pertains to claims of workplace negligence due to insufficient ventilation or exposure to secondhand smoke, it focused on determining whether Crown Resorts took sufficient measures to safeguard employees' health in areas where smoking was permitted. Without specific details, it's challenging to offer a more intricate analysis of the lawsuit's specifics.
- Although Victoria outlawed smoking in indoor public areas, the high roller rooms at Crown Casino were allowed an exemption, making them the only indoor public places in the state that permitted smoking.
- Dien Nguyen, a former employee of Melbourne's Crown Casino, is taking the establishment to court, arguing that their negligence in failing to test smoke levels, investigate health risks, or provide adequate ventilation contributed to his diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer.
- The lawsuit also accuses Crown Resorts of a lack of communication, as they allegedly failed to alert their employees about potential health hazards due to smoke inhalation within the workplace.
- Nguyen aims to seek compensation, interests, and costs from Crown for future medical and nursing expenses, relying on his wife's care.
- The medical-conditions diagnosis and ensuing lawsuit bring attention to the prevalence of health risks associated with secondhand smoke in high roller rooms, emphasizing the importance of workplace-wellness and science-backed policies in these areas.
