A lawsuit has been filed against a prominent hotel in Palm Beach County, alleging negligence that resulted in severe injuries to a guest. Tazewell Collins lodged the complaint against D R Palm Beach, Inc., doing business as Best Western Palm Beach Lakes, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, on August 7, 2024.

According to the complaint, Tazewell Collins was walking through the parking lot of Best Western Palm Beach Lakes on August 1, 2023, when he tripped over rebar protruding from the ground. Collins claims that he was a guest or invitee at the time and was conducting himself in a reasonable manner. The lawsuit asserts that the hotel had a duty of care to maintain its premises in a safe condition and to inspect for any dangerous conditions. It further alleges that the hotel failed to warn guests about or remedy this hazardous situation.

The plaintiff argues that the hotel knew or should have known about the rebar sticking out of the ground but did nothing to fix it or alert patrons. “The Defendant negligently and carelessly maintained its premises,” states Collins’ complaint. He accuses Best Western Palm Beach Lakes of failing to keep its property safe and misleading him into believing that the area was secure when it was not.