Get All Access for $5/mo

Man Sues South Florida Beach Resort After Claiming His Foot Was Left 'Seriously Impaired' Due to 'Searing' Pool Deck The man is accusing the resort of negligence for allegedly making no effort to cool down the deck.

By Sam Silverman Edited by Jessica Thomas

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Federico Massa/Shutterstock

Some fun in the South Florida heat left one vacationgoer with "devastating" third-degree burns.

Theoharis Lekas, 52, is suing Trump International Beach Resort in Sunny Isles, Florida, for negligence after claiming that the "searing" pool deck caused significant damage to his feet during his August vacation, resulting in a partial amputation.

According to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court obtained by the New York Post, Lekas claims the resort made no effort to cool down the deck or post proper signage urging guests to take precautions.

RELATED: Going on a Family Vacation? This Popular U.S. Destination Is the Most Expensive in the World.

He said he couldn't feel the scalding heat on his soles as a result of his diabetic neuropathy, which "caused him to lose feeling in his feet."

It wasn't until the last day of his trip that he realized his feet were peeling from the deck heat. Once he returned home, he was rushed to the hospital and treated for a "bullet-hole-shaped ulcer" on his right foot, which grew "wider and deeper, until it reached the bone."

While his left foot eventually healed, his right foot continued to swell and resulted in a partial amputation of a toe and part of his foot. He was in the hospital for 16 days, according to the Daily Mail.

RELATED: The Hidden Dangers of Not Taking Your Vacation Days

Lekas' wounds have yet to heal, and he has "been told to expect further injuries," according to the court documents, which state that he has been left "irrevocably and seriously impaired."

Lekas is being represented by Matsikoudis & Fanciullo LLC, which disclosed to the Daily Mail that he is seeking damages that could be "north of $1 million."

"The lawsuit speaks for itself — the resort was negligent," lawyer Bill Matsikoudis told the outlet. "There is the prospect his injuries could worsen."

Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Growing a Business

How Visionary Leaders Transform Curiosity Into Groundbreaking Ideas

Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, discusses the spark that launched FoodieCon, his best practices for running popular food events, and why all business owners need to adapt to social media trends.

Business News

Homeowners in These 10 States Pay the Most in 'Hidden' Upkeep Costs

Hidden home costs pile on top of mortgage payments.

Data & Recovery

Get $60 off This Portable VPN Travel Router

Why keep paying for a VPN service when you can have a tiny, lightweight piece of hardware that can provide you with a lifetime of maximum VPN protection?

Money & Finance

Avoid These 10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make with Money

Despite the challenging statistic that only 5% of startups survive beyond five years, common financial pitfalls often contribute to their failure. Through personal observation, I've identified the prevalent financial mistakes made by entrepreneurs.

Growing a Business

5 Books to Help You Motivate, Unify and Build Perspective

In a post-Covid world, check out these must-read books to help build a more resilient organization, create a modern work culture and maintain a powerful growth mindset.