A man’s estate is suing two off-Strip resorts for wrongful death after contracting Legionnaires’ disease.
The estate of Gary Curtis Jones is suing the South Point hotel casino and The Grandview in Las Vegas, as well as its associated holding companies, for wrongful death after a stay at both resorts allegedly led to him contracting the deadly bacteria.
The suit was filed in Clark County District Court on Feb. 16, where the estate demanded a jury trial. They are suing on four counts of wrongful death and survival and gross negligence.
According to the Center for Disease Control, Legionnaires’ disease is caused by being infected by the bacteria Legionella. The bacteria grows and spreads in artificial water systems such as shower heads, faucets, hot tubs or in this case large plumbing systems.
South Point and Grandview did not respond to requests for comment.
Trial details
Curtis Jones was an Alabama resident who traveled to Las Vegas for work and lived in Grandview and South Point. Before his work trip, he was diagnosed with cancer, but “was in good enough health to continue working,” the lawsuit said.
Curtis Jones traveled to Las Vegas in March 2023 and stayed at the Grandview from March 12 to 16 and South Point from March 16 to 17. During his stay at one of the hotels, he was exposed to Legionella and contracted Legionnaires’ disease.
When he returned home, he reported symptoms of lethargy and fatigue, “common symptoms of legionella infections,” according to the lawsuit. By 1 April 2023, the illness had “progressed to the point where he could no longer complete full sentences” and he was admitted to hospital.
At the hospital, the complaint said, Curtis Jones’ oxygen saturation and white blood cell count were both critically low.
“Given his rapidly deteriorating condition, Curtis was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit with respiratory failure and severe blood poisoning caused by Legionnaires’ disease,” the lawsuit states. “Doctors flushed ‘purulent, brown fluid’ from Curtis Jones’ lungs.”
Curtis Jones died of legionellosis on April 2, 2023, according to the lawsuit.
Grandview was notified that Curtis Jones had contracted Legionnaires’ disease, but said “Curtis Jones had not stayed at Grandview during the incubation period of his Legionnaires’ disease,” which was false, the lawsuit said.
The Southern Nevada Health District was able to confirm Curtis Jones’ stay from his employer who made the reservation, the lawsuit said.
However, water samples taken from Grandview between June 17, 2022 and July 11, 2023 tested negative for Legionella, according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, SNHD investigated South Point’s water system after Curtis Jones contracted the illness — they found Legionella in the water system, which also revealed that South Point’s drinking water “had almost no chlorine.”
Further investigation also revealed that South Point did not have a water management plan and “failed to meet the standard of care for Legionella control, the lawsuit said.
History of Legionella at Grandview, South Point
According to the lawsuit, South Point and Grandview both have a history of uncontrolled water systems and legionella presence.
A guest had previously contracted Legionnaires’ disease around June 2022 after a stay at Grandview, according to the lawsuit. Water sampling results from the Southern Nevada Health District revealed legionella in their water system, the lawsuit said.
Another Legionella outbreak at Grandview was also investigated by SNHD, the lawsuit said.
“Environmental samples received by SNHD on May 12, 2025 indicated that 5 of 17 water samples taken from Grandview were positive for Legionella and that there was no measurable chlorine in Grandview’s water system,” the lawsuit states.
At South Point, there were also “numerous violations” of the SNHD dating back to Oct. 12, 2020, including “water not maintained at temperatures sufficient to control the spread of legionella,” the lawsuit said.
In October 2024, another guest developed Legionnaires’ disease after a stay at South Point, the lawsuit said. SNHD surveys from 2024 and 2025 again showed the presence of Legionella and no chlorine.
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