Family sues Airbnb over toddler’s death from fentanyl exposure at rental property [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A family is suing Airbnb over the death of their 19-month-old daughter who was exposed to fentanyl while staying at a rental property in Florida.
• The cause of death was ruled as accidental acute fentanyl toxicity, but it’s not clear how the child ingested the drug or where it came from.
• The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Airbnb, the rental property owner, the property manager, and a prior guest who used the property for a party where drugs were consumed.

The family of a 19-month-old toddler who died after being exposed to fentanyl while staying at an Airbnb rental property in Wellington, Florida, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Airbnb, the rental property owner, the property manager, and a prior guest.

Enora Lavenir died on August 7, 2021, during a family vacation from France. The cause of death was ruled as accidental acute fentanyl toxicity, but it’s not clear how the child ingested the drug or where it came from.

The lawsuit alleges that the Airbnb listing advertised the unit as a “peaceful place to stay,” but it had a history of being used as a party house. According to the complaint, days before the French family arrived, someone threw a party where drugs were consumed.

Enora was exposed to fentanyl residue left in the rental, which resulted in her death. The suit further accuses Airbnb of negligence in failing to issue a warning about risks and ensure spaces are properly sanitized.

The complaint also accuses the rental property’s owner, Ronald M. Cortamilia, and its manager, Yulia A. Timpy, who controlled bookings, as well as a prior guest, Aaron Kornhauser, who booked the space via Vrbo vacation rentals, of negligence. The suit says that Kornhauser rented the property from July 30 to Aug. 1, 2021, for six adults but ended up staying there with 11 other adults.

The lawsuit alleges that he brought or permitted others to bring “illicit drugs” including cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, which were consumed throughout the premises including the bedrooms and kitchen counter.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office incident report indicates investigators interviewed Kornhauser, who said individuals in the residence used cocaine and marijuana but not fentanyl. He told authorities he could not explain how fentanyl would have gotten into the residence.

The sheriff’s office investigation is closed pending viable leads. The Lavenir family’s booking was the first time the property had ever been booked via Airbnb, but it had been leased out on other rental sites.

Source: news.yahoo.com