On October 23, 2003 a parking garage under construction at the Latin based casino collapsed causing four deaths and injuring dozens. The ensuing lawsuits led to a 101 million dollar settlement for the dead and injured. The Tropicana and eight construction companies were the defendants.
Lewis Springer, the gaming inspector, who is not a construction expert filed the report and made public the claims as to what was apparently happening.
Yellow caution tape and exclusion mesh surrounded the suspect columns.
Springer filed a report with the labor department and mailed a copy to the Atlantic City Press.
Initially the Tropicana did not comment on the situation created by Springer. The casino did hire qualified construction people who commenced an investigation of the suspicious supports.
Meanwhile, Springer’s report was reported on local and area media outlets. The reports have caused many convention goers that were going to stay at the Tropicana to cancel reservations, putting three thousand room nights at risk in the future.
As anyone who follows Atlantic City casino business knows the Tropicana has been in the news with its terminations of significant percentages of employees and the loss of gross win and decline in profitability.
This report has apparently exacerbated the situation. It may cause more layoffs.
What was the result of that investigation by qualified building inspectors? It seems that decorative facades on the outside of the columns were expanding and sagging from age. In another words, the columns themselves are not at risk.
While Mr. Springer’s intention was noble, his mistaken judgment and comments made to local media have had an inflammatory effect. How this affair will affect the jobs of Tropicana employees after Labor Day and the casino itself remains to be seen.
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