$2M awarded to family of man fatally burned by Kentucky hotel shower

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee family of a man who died after suffering third-degree burns from a scalding shower in a Kentucky hotel has been awarded more than $2 million by a Kentucky circuit court.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit, Alex Chronis was traveling with two associates and stayed at the Econo Lodge on Donaldson Road in Erlanger, Kentucky, on Nov. 18. The following morning, when Chronis attempted to take a shower, he was knocked to the floor with scalding hot water, the lawsuit said. The people traveling with Chronis heard him fall and his screams and rushed to help him, but Chronis suffered third-degree burns across his body.

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Chronis spent months in hospitals undergoing medical procedures before he died on June 19, 2022.

The lawsuit was filed by Chronis’ niece, who lives in Knox County, Tennessee, on behalf of Chronis’ estate against Aspyn, LLC, which operated the Econo Lodge, and member/manager Sanjay Patel in October 2022.

The case went to trial on June 25, 2024. On July 3, 2024, a Kenton Circuit Court jury found that Aspyn, LLC, and Patel failed to exercise ordinary care in inspecting and maintaining the hotel rooms, which was a substantial factor in Chronis’ death. The jury also found that the plumbing company that installed the water heater at the Econo Lodge was not at fault.

In total, Chronis’ estate was awarded 2,037,545.30, made up of:

• $1,271,486.60 in medical expenses
• $16,058.73 in funeral expenses
• $250,000 for Chronis’ mental and physical pain and suffering
• $500,000 in punitive damages

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