Canadian Father Sues Dominican Resort for $10M After Wife and Son Die of Food Poisoning

The lawsuit alleges negligence in food safety and delayed medical response during the family's vacation in December 2023.

April Gougeon, 41, and her 8-year-old son Oliver died from complications related to food poisoning during a stay at Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort in the Dominican Republic.
The Gougeon family fell severely ill after eating at the resort's buffet on their first night, with medical help initially denied despite their worsening condition.
A local coroner confirmed the deaths were caused by secondary complications from food poisoning, while the surviving father and younger son recovered after hospital treatment.
The $10 million lawsuit filed in Ontario Superior Court accuses the resort, its parent company Wyndham Hotels, and travel agency Air Transat of negligence in food safety, hygiene, and emergency response protocols.
Stephen Gougeon, the grieving father, stated the legal action aims to prevent similar tragedies and raise awareness about health and safety standards for travelers.