Poker Writer
The family of actor Michael Heslin is suing MGM Resorts after his death from cardiac arrest at the Aria in July 2024.
The family claims that the workers at Aria failed to act when he collapsed at the resort’s Mexican restaurant, Javier’s, located near the Aria poker room. Their lawsuit states that the employees opted instead to “stand by” as Heslin suffered the arrest. The incident allegedly sparked no response protocol.
Heslin’s family alleges five counts, including wrongful death and gross negligence. It seeks more than $30,000 in funeral expenses and punitive damages.
The complaint filed on Sept. 18 also states that an employee prevented a woman from assisting Heslin when signs of distress were evident. It also says that Heslin’s friends attempted to record the incident, but employees forced the deletion of the videos.
These breaches were not isolated incidents of inaction but constituted a pattern of conduct showing disregard for the health and safety of a patron in peril.
One of the lawyers representing the case, Orlando De Castroverde told USA today:
This was a systematic failure by the staff and management of Aria, MGM International and Javier’s. Mike’s death was a preventable tragedy.
MGM Resorts will defend themselves through the legal process. It claims the lawsuit is not accurate in presenting the facts of the incident.
This story prompted many comments on Yahoo Entertainment, with many questioning why the restaurant would bar people from helping.
There’s always two sides to the story. If people were not prepared to perform CPR, that’s one thing. If they blocked people from performing CPR, then that’s another. If they ‘forced people to delete things from their phones,’ well, that is another. As one referenced earlier, the attorneys always try to find the deep pockets.
Heslin’s Career
The California native was 35 years old at the time of his death, just two weeks shy of his 36th birthday. He was featured on the TV show “The Influencers” and “Lioness.” He also wrote “Happy Halloween,” a short film that won awards at horror festivals.
There were no indications of of poor health prior to the cardiac event. Husband Scotty Dynamo said he was “young, in perfect health, and the doctors have no explanation for what happened.”
Dynamo also shared that Heslin provided instrumental support as he went through several rounds of cancer, “single-handedly” carrying him through it.
“He truly was the sweetest, most caring, and loving man on earth, and he brought out the absolute best in everyone who had the pleasure to cross paths with him,” Dynamo wrote. “He moved through life with such ease and confidence, and turned everyone around him into a better version of themselves.”
