A grieving widow has filed a lawsuit against a Las Vegas resort, alleging hotel staff failed to act when her husband suffered a medical emergency in the lobby.
Katina Robertson brought the legal action this month against the Elara and its operator, Hilton Grand Vacations, after the death of her husband, David Robertson, on March 14, 2025.
According to the complaint obtained by Our News Outlet, David’s death at 49 was described as “an avoidable tragedy” and the “direct result of the negligence” of hotel employees.
Katina, a 49-year-old bartender from Parker, Arizona, says in the filing that the hotel “and its agents took no immediate lifesaving action” after her husband of 12 years collapsed in the lobby.
The lawsuit further alleges that staff failed to direct responding medics to an automated external defibrillator, or AED, located roughly 100 feet from where David was lying.
Filed in Clark County District Court in Nevada, the complaint seeks more than $45,000 in damages, including compensation for lost wages, funeral expenses, and emotional pain and suffering.
The couple had arrived on the evening of March 13, 2025, at the 52-story Elara, a sleek resort just off the Las Vegas Strip, for what was meant to be a relaxing family getaway gifted by David’s brother, Michael.
Around 11:35 p.m., David went to the restroom, then returned to the lobby, sat down beside his wife, and called his brother to say they had made it to the hotel.
Katina Robertson, from Parker, Arizona, launched legal action this month against the Elara and its operator, Hilton Grand Vacations, following the death of her spouse, David Robertson, at the age of 49 on March 14, 2025. Katina and David Robertson are pictured above
The horror began on the evening of March 13, 2025, when the couple checked in at the glossy 52-story Elara, located steps away from the Las Vegas Strip, for what was supposed to be a relaxing family vacation. The Elara hotel’s pool deck is pictured above
However, he suddenly began to deteriorate. ‘His eyelids began fluttering and his phone began to fall from his ear,’ the lawsuit states.
Katina tried to comfort him, and called Michael, who was also on the trip, to let him know that something was wrong.
Moments later, it was clear that David was suffering a ‘medical emergency,’ according to the suit – although it does not give details. Katina called 911 and yelled for help.
The lawsuit describes how an ‘unidentified man’ who was nearby rushed to their aid and began performing chest compressions on David.
Meanwhile, Michael scoured the property for an AED but could not find the device, which they later learned was behind a podium in the lobby, the filing states.
Michael rushed to the valet area, ‘where he found emergency personnel standing around without assistance from Hilton staff directing them to Mr Robertson,’ according to the lawsuit.
It was down to Michael to direct the medics to his brother and they worked to try to save his life for more than 30 minutes, the filing states.
He was eventually rushed to the Sunrise Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12.39am – a little over an hour after arriving for what was supposed to be a dream vacation.
Katina claims that the hotel ‘and its agents took no immediate lifesaving action’ when her husband David Robertson collapsed in the lobby, per the complaint
The couple were supposed to be starting a dream vacation on the iconic Las Vegas Strip
According to the lawsuit, his heartbroken family was later told that ‘use of an AED would have significantly increased Mr Robertson’s chances of survival – even potentially saving his life completely.’
The suit takes aim at Hilton and its agents for allegedly failing ‘to use or retrieve’ the machine despite it being ‘easily accessible on the scene of Mr Robertson’s medical emergency.’
They also allegedly failed to direct medical staff to the spot where he lay dying, and the hotel failed to properly train its staff on responding to a medical emergency, according to the suit.
‘An AED is commonly maintained by licensed Nevada gaming establishments, including hotels and restaurants like Defendant, due to the foreseeability of medical emergencies occurring when hosting a large number of patrons,’ the filing reads.
‘The circumstances surrounding Mr. Robertson’s medical emergency occurred in a high-foot-traffic establishment which increases the foreseeability of the need for emergency response protocols.’
The lawsuit concludes that the ‘failures’ of the hotel and its staff ‘proximately caused or substantially contributed to Mr Robertson’s preventable death.’
‘As a direct result of Defendant’s acts and omissions, Mr. Robertson did not receive prompt and appropriate medical intervention,’ it adds.
A spokesman for Hilton Grand Vacations told Our News Outlet it ‘does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation’ when asked for comment on the case
Katina has requested at least $45,000 in damages for the ‘loss of his love, companionship, comfort, care, and support, as well as funeral and burial expenses.’
The lawsuit adds that she has been left traumatized by the ordeal after being a ‘direct eyewitness to the suffering and demise’ of her husband of more than a decade.
A spokesman for Hilton Grand Vacations told Our News Outlet it ‘does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation’ when asked for comment on the case.
The Daily Mail has also contacted Katina’s attorneys for comment.
