A legal battle is unfolding as a family takes on a major online rental platform, accusing it of negligence and seeking justice for personal injuries sustained during a rental stay. The complaint was filed by Sharon LaCourley, Marc LaCourley, and Jordan LaCourley in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on October 22, 2024, against Airbnb, Inc., and unnamed defendants referred to as Does 1 through 10.
The plaintiffs allege that Airbnb's negligence led to severe injuries when a deck collapsed at a property rented through the platform. According to the complaint, Airbnb failed to notify the landlord about necessary repairs to keep the property safe, violating the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act. The plaintiffs claim that this breach directly resulted in Sharon LaCourley's fall from a thirteen-foot-high deck during a gathering on April 22, 2023. The incident caused her significant physical injuries and mental anguish for her husband Marc and son Jordan who witnessed the event.
The lawsuit accuses Airbnb of strict liability under the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act for failing to maintain the property in a fit and habitable condition. It also claims negligent infliction of emotional distress for Marc and Jordan LaCourley due to witnessing Sharon's accident. Furthermore, Marc LaCourley brings forth an additional claim for loss of consortium due to his wife's injuries impacting their marital relationship.
The plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief from the court. They demand general damages exceeding the jurisdictional minimum, compensation for medical expenses incurred due to Sharon's injuries, damages for economic losses including loss of earnings and earning capacity, interest on damages awarded, costs associated with bringing this suit forward, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Elise R. Sanguinetti and Matthew J. Kita from Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team LLP. The case has been assigned Case No. CGC-24-619210 in front of judges at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco County.