TLDR
- Ocean Casino in Atlantic City plans to sue the city for $1.5 million over damage from a fire response.
- A small fire started in the casino’s linen room on the morning of July 27.
- The casino says firefighters used so much water that part of the lobby ceiling collapsed and the casino floor flooded.
- Ocean Casino claims the casino floor shutdown cost it at least $1 million in lost revenue.
- The Atlantic City Fire Department faces allegations of gross negligence and wanton damage.
Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City is preparing to sue the city for $1.5 million. The casino says the local Fire Department caused heavy water damage while putting out a small fire at the property.
The casino claims the response did more harm than the fire itself. It says the damage forced it to close its casino floor and cancel a slot tournament.
How the Fire Started
According to a report from the Press of Atlantic City, the incident began on the morning of Monday, July 27. Staff called the Fire Department after heavy smoke filled part of the building.
Firefighters found a small fire in the venue’s linen room. Although it started small, the blaze reportedly produced burning debris that needed to be put out.
As crews worked to stop the fire, they released a large amount of water into the building. The water reportedly caused part of the hotel lobby ceiling to collapse.
Elevator shafts and staff hallways were also affected. Ocean Casino further claims that firefighters caused a pipe to burst during the response.
Hotel guests reported that all the lobby rugs were soaked. Water was also seen in front of the elevators.
The casino says the flooding reached the gaming floor, which then had to be closed. Some guests left the hotel early because of the problems.
Casino Operations and Costs
The hotel stayed open during the incident, but the casino says it lost revenue. It was forced to cancel its $30,000 Slot Tournament.
The property also faced a wave of booking cancellations. It says it had to pay compensation to customers who were affected.
Ocean Casino claims the casino floor shutdown alone cost it at least $1 million in lost revenue. The rest of its planned claim covers repair work and other expenses.
Those costs include architectural and engineering fees and repairs to the lobby ceiling. The casino also had to install new carpets and tiling.
Other expenses include restoring damaged gaming equipment and replacing LED panels. The casino says it reopened its gaming floor as quickly as possible.
The Atlantic City Fire Department now faces allegations of gross negligence. Ocean Casino is also accusing the department of wanton damage to the property.
The legal case is still in its early stages. Reports describe the casino as preparing its lawsuit against the city.
The venue has since resumed normal operations. Repairs to the property are still ongoing as the legal dispute moves forward.
