NBC Charlotte recently interviewed attorney Nancy Winkler for an article on crimes against American tourists in Mexico. The article discusses the death of the son of Nancy Winkler’s client and problems filing lawsuits against foreign businesses.
Americans vacationing in Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and across Mexico are routinely poisoned by tainted alcohol and other illicit substances. Mexican authorities and resort staff extort money from these injured Americans and their families instead of offering aid. These injured tourists and their families have great difficulty seeking compensation because Mexico’s justice system is nonfunctional and rampant with corruption.
In the article, several cases are discussed where American tourists blacked out and suffered serious injuries or wrongful death at Mexican resorts. One of those cases involved then 22-year-old Nolan Webster, who had arrived at a Cancun resort in 2007 just after his college graduation. Titto Chikee, a nurse from Ontario, recounted Nolan’s death in the NBC article.
According to Titto, he had just arrived at the Cancun resort when he heard frantic shouting coming from the pool area. Titto rushed over and discovered onlookers shouting for someone who knew CPR. When he arrived, he found Nolan lying by the side of the pool and dying from oxygen deprivation. Titto tried multiple times to render aid but was stopped by resort staff. At one point during the ordeal, Titto tried to take the on-site doctor’s oxygen bag. Resort staff responded by holding Titto to the ground. Despite Titto’s best efforts to render aid, Nolan passed away. He had drowned. Witnesses claim that Nolan did not appear drunk in the moments before his death.
Nancy Winkler represented Maureen Webster, Nolan’s mother. According to Nancy Winkler, it is extremely difficult to sue foreign-based businesses. However, it is possible in cases where businesses have assets or other ties in the US. With Nancy Winkler’s help, Maureen filed a lawsuit against the travel agency, Oasis Hotels and Apple Vacations. Maureen received undisclosed settlements from all three businesses.
