A Mumbai woman won a compensation of Rs 2.7 lakh after a chandelier crash ruined her wedding at JW Marriott’s Grand Ballroom. The chandelier fell from the ceiling, shattering and disrupting the event. The incident led to significant distress and inconvenience on her special day. The hotel’s negligence was held responsible for the mishap.
Mumbai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission found that JW Marriott hotel in Sahar, suburban Mumbai, guilty of deficiency in service. The Commission directed the hotel to pay a compensation of Rs 2.7 lakhs to a Mumbai resident, Kimberley Dias.
Dias, a resident of Dadar West, filed a complaint stating that in October 2021, she and her fiancé had booked the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott for their wedding on January 2, 2022. Dias paid Rs 7,25,847 to the hotel, for which she had an invoice.
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On the day of the wedding, a major incident occurred in the Grand Ballroom when a chandelier fell from the ceiling and crashed to the floor, breaking into pieces. Dias said this turned the celebration into a nightmare. While some guests, including children, escaped unharmed, her brother was injured in the accident. Additionally, issues with the condition of the room and the lack of proper room arrangements for guests, which were only addressed after her fiancé rushed from the church.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, after hearing the case, passed an ex-parte order, finding the JW Marriott hotel guilty of deficiency in service and directing it to pay the compensation of Rs 2.7 lakhs to Dias.
In January 2022, after Dias raised concerns, Marriott allegedly offered to refund Rs 1 lakh via email on January 17th. However, Dias did not accept this offer and instead issued legal notices, seeking a full refund of the amount paid to Marriott.
The Consumer Commission took notice of Dias’s complaint against Marriott. Despite being served a notice, the hotel did not appear or contest the claim.
The Commission reviewed Dias’s email correspondence with Marriott and determined that the hotel “admitted its liability.” Ultimately, the Commission concluded that Marriott was “guilty of deficiency in service.”
The Commission determined that Dias “eligible for her claim, albeit partially.” It observed that Dias established Marriott’s failure in service, which Marriott did not dispute.
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The Commission stated,
“Thus, it is inferred that Marriott has acknowledged Dias’s claim. Consequently, Dias is entitled to receive fair compensation in this instance,”
This case not only highlights the need for rigorous safety standards but also underscores the role of legal recourse in upholding consumer rights. It acts as a cautionary tale for both service providers and consumers about the importance of safety and the legal obligations of businesses to provide a secure environment.