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Family Sues San Jose Fairfield Inn Over Fatal Scalding From Hotel Shower

The wrongful-death complaint cites a medical examiner’s ruling that severe scald burns caused the 72-year-old guest’s death.

Overview

  • Relatives found Terril Wade Johnson Sr. unconscious and partially submerged in the bathtub, reporting water so hot they could not immediately pull him out.
  • The lawsuit alleges the shower temperature measured 134–136°F, exceeding California’s 120°F limit for individual tubs and showers.
  • Filed on Oct. 15 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, the case seeks a jury trial, damages and additional relief.
  • Plaintiffs claim the hotel’s hot-water system was dangerously unregulated, breaching safety codes and industry standards.
  • Marriott International did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the allegations.