A Broomfield woman is taking legal action against a lodge near Estes Park after a terrifying incident left her with serious injuries. Diana Gathright, 60, found herself locked out on a balcony at Dao House on April 6, 2023. As she tried to stargaze, the door locked behind her, trapping her outside with no way to get back in.
Gathright was the only guest at the lodge at the time, and with no cell service and employees in a separate building, she was left stranded for three hours in freezing temperatures. Desperate to escape, she attempted to break the window with balcony furniture before ultimately deciding to lower herself to the ground. Unfortunately, her landing on a snow-covered log resulted in multiple broken bones, a lacerated liver, and a collapsed lung.
According to a lawsuit filed by Gathright’s attorneys at Denver firm Cheney Galluzi & Howard, multiple others had also been locked out on the balcony before, indicating a recurring safety issue that the lodge owners should have addressed. The lawsuit alleges that Dao House failed to protect their guest and breached their duty to provide a safe environment.
As a result of the fall, Gathright suffered permanent injuries and continues to experience pain. Seeking unspecified damages for medical expenses, permanent impairment, and pain and suffering, she hopes to hold Dao House accountable for the negligence that led to her injuries.
Representatives for Dao House have not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining safe accommodations for guests and addressing potential hazards promptly to prevent similar accidents in the future.
