At least 23 individuals, predominantly children, have reported serious illnesses linked to a bacterial infection after swimming at the Best Western Plus hotel in Brunswick, Maine, in early March 2023. A lawsuit filed in Cumberland County Superior Court last week details the experiences of two groups who visited the hotel pool during two separate events: one group was attending a hockey tournament, while the other gathered for a children’s birthday party.
The complaint involves 15 plaintiffs who allege that the hotel’s owners, Giri Hotel Management and Giri Brunswick, neglected to address health violations noted during inspections prior to the incidents. According to the lawsuit, the hotel had received citations for violations over a year earlier, including critical issues that required immediate remediation. These violations included the absence of a certified pool operator, a non-functioning disinfectant feeder, and failure to conduct necessary chlorine testing and maintenance.
In the days following their visit to the pool between March 3-5, 2023, all child plaintiffs and some adults reportedly contracted a bacterial infection known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The lawsuit states that when parents approached hotel management regarding their illnesses, they were informed that the pool was not to blame. Following reports of the illnesses, health inspectors returned to the hotel, only to declare the pool an “imminent health hazard” and order its closure. Notably, by that time, management had already added chlorine to the pool, preventing effective testing for the bacteria.
The CDC has identified P. aeruginosa as a serious infection that can lead to various health complications, including rashes, eye and skin infections, respiratory issues, and flu-like symptoms. In the United States, this bacterium resulted in approximately 2,700 deaths in 2017, underscoring its potential severity. The plaintiffs endured illnesses lasting weeks or even months, according to their legal representatives.
A report published by both the Maine CDC and the national CDC in January 2024 classified the incident as an outbreak. The report suggested that inadequate maintenance and monitoring of chlorine levels in the hotel pool likely contributed to the infections. Among those who swam during the specified days, a staggering 88% reported falling ill.
Giri Hotel Management, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, operates several other hotels in Maine, including the Anchorage by the Sea in Ogunquit and the Hilton Garden Inn near the Portland Jetport. The Best Western is located at 71 Gurnet Road in Brunswick. The management company has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the lawsuit.
Attorney Peter Richard of Garmey Law, representing the plaintiffs, emphasized the importance of adhering to health regulations intended to protect the public. In a press release, he stated, “When companies ignore laws and regulations designed to protect the public, and especially children, the harm is not abstract. The risk taken by the Defendant Giri Hotels with the public’s health and with the wellbeing of its hotel guests shocks the conscience.” Richard further criticized the management for their negligence, which he claims led to an easily preventable outbreak of an infectious disease affecting innocent children and hotel guests.
