Tynan sues US hotel

A US court has begun hearing an $8m (€6.8m) lawsuit brought by the Irish tenor, Ronan Tynan against a Colorado hotel after an accident while taking a shower.

The popular classical music performer claims he was seriously injured when a shower seat designed to accommodate disabled people collapsed under him during his stay at the hotel on July 22, 2002.

Dr Tynan, a qualified medical practitioner, has two artificial legs since his lower limbs were amputated in his 20s.

The Co Kilkenny born singer, who is now based mostly in the US, is seeking $8m in damages from the hotel, including $5m (€4.2m) for loss of earnings.

Dr Tynan claims he has suffered extreme pain due to the injury which he blames on the negligence of the hotel.

A jury was yesterday sworn in a US district court in Denver, Colorado to hear the case.

The action is being taken against the upmarket Broadmoor Hotel located in Colorado Springs which is described as a “five-star, world class” facility in its own publicity.

The action is also against a California company called Tubular Specialities which manufactured the shower seat.

Lawyers for Dr Tynan have already accused the hotel of destroying vital evidence, despite reassurances that it would preserve paperwork relating to the case.

The singer has challenged the hotel’s claims that no repairs were ever made to the seat. Dr Tynan is expected to call expert evidence to show that the shower seat had been repaired prior to its collapse.

His lawyers also claim that the seat which was installed over a decade ago did not comply with US disability legislation.

Earlier this month, a Colorado judge dismissed a summary motion by the hotel to discharge the case on the basis that the hotel was not legally responsible for the safety of fittings in its guest rooms.