Casino Worker Diagnosed With Lung Cancer Sues Casino

A nonsmoking casino worker, diagnosed with lung cancer, is suing the operator of the Tropicana for failing to protect its employees against secondhand smoke.

Vincent Rennich, 48, of Somers Point, an advocate for smoke-free casinos, and his wife, Lynn Rennich, claim in the suit that Aztar Corporation, which operates the Tropicana, was more concerned with getting an exception to the state's smoke-free law, than protecting employees with ventilation equipment.

"Despite the well-known and scientifically proven health hazards of secondhand smoke, defendant Aztar has done nothing whatsoever to warn, guard against or alleviate the dangers of secondhand smoke," the suit says.

The Rennichs declined comment through their lawyer, Jeffrey I. Carton. The suit claims the Tropicana neglected protecting its employees health, is responsible for Vincent Rennich's cancer and violated the state's Health and Safety Workplace Act.

Aztar spokesman Joe Cole declined comment as did the Casino Association of New Jersey.

The suit seeks unspecifed damages for the Rennichs and employee protection. It doesn't aim to overturn the exemption casinos got when the state banned smoking in public places this year.

Through a spokeswoman, Senate President and anti-smoking advocate Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, said: "I hope to see the casinos included in the smoking ban sometime in the near future . . . but it takes more than one person to make this happen. I hope we can make it a priority this legislative session."

According to the suit, Rennich is a table-games supervisor at the Tropicana who "never smoked a cigarette in his life," but was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. A portion of his lung was removed in September, and his doctors give an 80 percent chance of recurrence.

July 13, 2006
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!