A Marine Corps veteran and grandfather tragically passed away after being severely burned by boiling water in a hotel shower in California, as stated in a lawsuit filed on October 15.
The lawsuit claims that Terrill Johnson was exposed to water temperatures reaching between 134 and 136 degrees Fahrenheit while showering at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites San Jose Airport. According to legal documents, this temperature far exceeds California’s 120-degree limit for showers.
A coroner’s report indicated that the extreme heat caused burns covering over 33 percent of Johnson’s body. The 72-year-old had traveled from Los Angeles to San Jose on May 22 to celebrate his granddaughter’s graduation from San Jose State University.
After a six-hour drive, Johnson entered the shower, where his grandson later found him unconscious and partially submerged. Reports suggest the water was so hot that family members could not pull him out without risking burns themselves.
During attempts at CPR, they “were forced to watch in horror as the skin peeled away from his body,” according to the lawsuit.
The Santa Clara County coroner determined that Johnson died from severe burns, with the lawsuit arguing he was “virtually boiled alive.” Family members, including his son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters, witnessed this horrifying incident and are mentioned in the court filings.
The lawsuit claims this was not merely an accident but resulted from the hotel’s gross negligence, failing to uphold basic safety standards.
Originally from Indiana, Mr. Johnson served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War before settling in California. He retired as a senior chief engineer for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority and had been married to his high school sweetheart for 54 years, leaving behind two children and four grandchildren.
An attorney for the Johnson family, Paul Traina, mentioned that it’s uncertain how long Johnson was in the hot water, but he described it as “a short period of time.” The lawsuit also alleges the hotel breached California plumbing codes by not ensuring safe water temperatures.
Efforts for comment from the Johnson family’s attorney and Marriott Americas are ongoing.
