The family of Aliyah Lynette Jaico, an 8-year-old girl who tragically died after being sucked into a swimming pool at a hotel in Houston, Texas, is suing all responsible parties for her death. Aliyah was swimming in a lazy river at the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow on March 23 when she disappeared and was pulled into an unsecured open gap in the pool’s flow system. Her body was discovered wedged in the pipes of the malfunctioning pool equipment after a frantic search and 12-hour rescue operation.
Aliyah’s mother, Daniela Jaico, had booked the hotel only for a day so that the family could use its pool and lazy river since they did not have access to one where they lived. Despite the family’s intentions to have a nice outing, tragedy struck, leading to Aliyah’s untimely death. The family is devastated by the loss, with Daniela still coming to terms with the unimaginable passing of her daughter. A somber funeral was held for Aliyah where mourners were invited to pay their respects and bid farewell to the young girl.
A lawsuit filed by the family’s attorney seeks wrongful death damages of $1 million from Unique Crowne Hospitality LLC, which operates the hotel, and Hilton Worldwide Holdings INC. Both entities are named as defendants in the legal action. Hilton has distanced itself from the incident, stating that it does not own or control the day-to-day operations of the property, although Aliyah’s family and their attorney are critical of this stance. They are also displeased with the alleged lack of cooperation from the hotel staff regarding security camera footage to determine the sequence of events leading to Aliyah’s death.
The attorney representing the family, Richard Nava, is adamant about holding all responsible parties accountable for the tragic incident. He intends to file an amended petition with a temporary restraining order to gain access to the pool and conduct a thorough investigation. Nava believes that the hotel’s safety standards were inadequate and could have been avoided with proper oversight and maintenance. He is determined to seek justice for Aliyah and her family and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
The lawsuit highlights the harrowing details of Aliyah’s death, shedding light on the dangers posed by unsecured pool equipment and the need for stringent safety measures to prevent such tragedies. Nava emphasizes that the gap in the pool, which sucked Aliyah in, was a hazard that should have been properly covered and maintained to avoid accidents. He is deeply affected by the shocking nature of the incident and the devastating impact it has had on the family. Despite representing other cases involving children’s deaths, Aliyah’s case stands out due to its preventable nature and the profound loss suffered by her loved ones.
Moving forward, Nava and the family are committed to seeking justice and ensuring that responsible parties are held accountable for Aliyah’s death. The legal action aims to raise awareness about the importance of safety in public recreational spaces such as swimming pools and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The tragic loss of Aliyah serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and stringent safety measures to protect individuals, especially children, from potential hazards in recreational settings. Through their legal efforts, the family seeks to honor Aliyah’s memory and prevent such heartbreaking tragedies from happening to others.
