Man Sues Hotel After Employees ‘Laughed’ at Scorpion Sting to His Testicles

September 4, 2024 Sharon Banks

A man from California is taking legal action against a Las Vegas hotel after employees “laughed” at him for being stung on his testicles by a scorpion.

62-year-old Michael Farchi, alleges in a lawsuit that he and his wife were asleep on the night of December 26 at The Palazzo at The Venetian when he was jolted awake by a sharp, painful sensation in his groin.

According to the court documents filed in Clark County District Court, Farchi reached down and felt more stings on his hand by a scorpion.

Farchi immediately called the front desk for help, but when hotel staff arrived, they allegedly “laughed off his distress.” He later sought medical attention, and since the incident, Farchi claims to have suffered from “erectile dysfunction,” a detail mentioned in the lawsuit.

Brian Virag, one of Farchi’s attorneys and the founder of “My Bed Bug Lawyer,” said that the lawsuit includes a claim for “loss of consortium,” indicating that the scorpion encounter has negatively impacted Farchi’s marital relationship.

The lawsuit asserts that the hotel had a duty to provide a clean and safe environment, free from pests like bed bugs and, in this case, scorpions. Virag further alleges that the hotel was aware of “previous scorpion issues,” potentially linked to nearby construction.

Virag shared unsettling photos with the media, showing the scorpion clinging to Farchi’s underwear.

Recalling the painful ordeal, Farchi described the sensation as akin to being stabbed with a “piece of glass or knife.” He rushed to the bathroom, where he found the orange scorpion latched onto his Reebok boxers, stinging him multiple times.

“No one should have to worry about deadly scorpions in their bed while staying in Las Vegas, especially in such a sensitive area,” Virag stated in a previous interview, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Although the hotel comped the room for the night, Farchi and his family checked out the following day. The hotel issued a statement saying that it followed “its protocols in response to the incident,” but has remained silent since the lawsuit was filed.

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According to Seattle Children’s Hospital, Bark scorpions, which typically range in length from 1.6 to 3 inches, can cause pain, tingling and numbness at the sting site.

While scorpion stings are generally painful but rarely life-threatening, according to the Mayo Clinic, the experience has left Farchi with lasting physical and emotional scars, leading him to seek justice through the courts.