An Ann Arbor hotel is at the center of a lawsuit after a former guest alleged a bacteria-ridden pool resulted in a severe infection. Alexis Williams is pressing charges against the Residence Inn on West Huron, with her lawyer pointing to the hotel's negligence in maintaining safe pool conditions. According to WXYZ, Williams claims she unknowingly swam in water that was devoid of chlorine or bromine, and the pH levels were unsafe based on documents from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
The aftermath of the incident left Williams with an antibiotic-resistant infection, requiring a hospital stint and numerous operations. "Zero chlorine was discovered when the health department and EGLE tested a week later," her attorney Ven Johnson conveyed, as noted by WXYZ. A response from the hotel's parent company was sought by the media, but none has been forthcoming; in a visit to the hotel, reporters were denied access to the pool, and hotel officials stated to CBS Detroit that they had just learned about the lawsuit and offered no comment at the time.
Williams' ordeal was detailed further in interviews where she expressed the pain and debilitation following the incident, with her younger cousins also falling ill after using the pool; she is pressing for damages in excess of $25,000 to cover medical and emotional distress. The lawsuit suggests that hotel management was aware of the pool's inadequate sanitation and failed to act responsibly, as per interviews with attorney Michael Freifeld in ClickOnDetroit.
The plaintiff alleges the hotel not only failed to correct the issue but also neglected to duly alert hotel guests of the substandard conditions, which is evidenced by the testimony, "It got to the point where you had to practically carry me because I couldn't walk." Williams described the severe extent of her pain and immobility. The hotel, owned by First Martin Corporation, hasn't yet addressed the allegations publicly, while a representative from EGLE reported to ClickOnDetroit that since the department has not reviewed the complaint, it is not positioned to offer an informed stance on the matter.
