Ariel Ruiz filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. In the complaint obtained by BocaNewsNow.com, he says he booked a stay at a property listed on Airbnb as “Aska Adventure Retreat w/Hot Tub, Creek & Games!” On September 4, 2022, shortly after he arrived and started carrying his bags to the cabin, Ruiz says he slipped on the exterior wooden stairs and fell to the ground below.
The stairs were wet from rain and had no handrails or slip-resistant treads, according to the complaint. Ruiz says the fall broke his left wrist and tore cartilage in the joint, injuries he describes as permanent. He argues Airbnb never adequately vetted or inspected the property before listing it, and that the company knew or should have known the stairs posed a safety risk to guests.
The one-count negligence lawsuit accuses Airbnb of premises liability failures, including listing an unsafe property, skipping proper screening procedures, and failing to warn guests of the hazard. Ruiz is represented by attorney James P. Gitkin of Salpeter Gitkin, LLP in Hollywood. He is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and has demanded a jury trial. Airbnb has not yet filed a response in court…