One month after 8-year-old Aliyah Jaico drowned when she was sucked into a pool pipe at a Houston hotel, the hotel’s owner says “negligent actions” by the mother played a role in her death.
That accusation came in a legal response to the wrongful death lawsuit brought against the hotel by Jaico’s family.
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Unique Crowne Hospitality (UHC), the local owner of DoubleTree by Hilton, denies claims made against the hotel. Their response, filed April 22, 2024, asks for “stringent evidence to support the accusations” and also say the mother’s “negligent actions” or oversights played a role in the drowning.
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“UCH asserts that Plaintiffs engaged in negligent acts and/or omissions that proximately caused the alleged injuries and damages,” the court document reads.
“UCH seeks a reduction of any damages that may be awarded against it by the percentage of responsibility found by the jury as to Plaintiffs, settling parties, responsible third parties, and/or anyone else.”
Jaico was swimming with other family members in a lazy river-style pool at the hotel when she disappeared.
The lawsuit alleges Jaico’s family tried to get hotel management to look at the security camera video around 30 minutes after she disappeared, but management denied their request and said law enforcement had to be present to view the video surveillance.
Hours later, after an exhaustive search and draining the pool, Aliyah’s body was found wedged inside a large pipe that feeds into the pool.
The medical examiner said her death was caused by drowning and mechanical asphyxiation.
The Jaico family is seeking over $1 million in damages, along with a jury trial.
The lawsuit names UCH LLC D/B/A DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. as defendants.
Rescuers had to use heavy machinery to break through tile and dirt and eventually recovered Jaico’s body around 6:30 a.m., more than 12 hours after she disappeared. According to a report from the City of Houston’s Health Department, the pool was not in compliance with federal laws meant to prevent drain entrapment and child drowning in swimming pools.
The lawsuit alleges gross negligence on the part of the hotel which led to the death of Jaico. The family is seeking over $1 million in damages, according to the lawsuit. A jury trial has also been requested.