A Marine veteran and grandfather, Terril Johnson, died after being scalded by dangerously hot water in a hotel shower at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites San Jose Airport, according to a wrongful death lawsuit. The incident occurred on October 15, during which Johnson, 72, had traveled to San Jose from Los Angeles to attend his granddaughter’s college graduation at San Jose State University. The lawsuit alleges that the water reached 134–136 degrees Fahrenheit, exceeding California’s safety limit of 120 degrees. Medical examiners reported that Johnson suffered burns covering over 33% of his body, with the lawsuit describing the incident as ‘effectively boiling alive.’ Family members, including Johnson’s son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters, witnessed the tragic event.
Attorney Paul Traina, representing the Johnson family, stated that the family is seeking justice against the hotel for its alleged negligence in maintaining safe water temperatures. The case highlights concerns over hotel compliance with plumbing codes and the potential dangers of extreme water temperatures. Johnson, an Indiana native, served in Vietnam with the Marines before moving to California. He retired as a senior lead technician at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and had been married to his high school sweetheart for 54 years. He is survived by two children and four grandchildren. The lawsuit contends that the hotel failed to maintain safe water temperatures in violation of California plumbing codes. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Johnson family’s attorney and Marriott Americas for comment.
During attempts at CPR, family members