Canadian Man Launches Lawsuit After Wife, Son Die of Food Poisoning in Dominican Republic

An aerial view of Dominicus beach in the Dominican Republic, in a file photo. Shutterstock/Roberto Binetti

A Canadian man whose wife and son died after getting food poisoning at a resort in the Dominican Republic has filed a lawsuit against the companies involved in the trip.

The lawsuit alleges the resort companies did not have proper health and safety protocols in place, and did not provide timely medical assistance to the family.

Stephen Gougeon, his wife April, and their two sons took the trip in December 2023, staying at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort, according to a Jan. 27 release.

Gougeon said on the first night they arrived, the family ate at the resort buffet. That night, the whole family became sick.

”We called for medical support in the morning, but none came,” Gougeon said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

He said after the initial failed attempt, they again called for help, and this time received it. The family was taken to the resort clinic for treatment, according to Gougeon. They were then transported to a local hospital by ambulance.

He said his 8-year-old son Oliver died soon after being admitted to the hospital, and April, who was 41 years old, died soon after. Gougeon and his other son, Wesley, were treated in hospital for two days before being released.

“Every single day since then has been a struggle,” Gougeon said.

A coroner’s report completed in the Dominican Republic concluded April and Oliver had both died due to secondary causes related to food poisoning.

Gougeon said that the trip had been planned as a family holiday for some rest and relaxation and that “the thought that something like this could happen was the furthest thing from our minds.”

Lawsuit

Gougeon said his wife had booked an all-inclusive vacation package with Air Transat Holidays and Wyndham Hotel Canada. The lawsuit, which was filed in Toronto Superior Court, names Wyndham Hotel Canada, Air Transat Holidays, Transat Tours Canada Inc., Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham, and Clinica Canela, the on-site medical clinic.

The lawsuit alleges poor sanitary conditions in food preparation areas, as well as the lack of timely on-site medical evaluation and treatment. It also claims staff was poorly trained to identify and deal with emergencies.

“We called asking for help,” Gougeon said. “They did not take our call seriously, did not follow up on our request for medical help, and did not check in on us. When they finally responded after our further plea, there appeared to be confusion about how to handle the situation.”

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Air Transat has denied the allegations, while saying in a statement the company was “deeply saddened” by the deaths.

“At the time of these events, we supported the Gougeon family,” said a statement from the company. “In such cases, we act with diligence, prudence, and compassion, making every effort to assist our clients.”

Air Transat said the company chooses its suppliers “with great care” and the resort involved is cooperating with authorities.

The other companies named in the lawsuit didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Lawyer Meghan Hull Jacquin with Toronto firm Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP, is representing the Gougeon family. She said in a release the family was taking legal action to get answers and a “sense of justice” for themselves and to protect others from similar occurrences.

Gougeon said the lawsuit will not bring his wife and son back, but hopes it could help prevent the same thing from happening to other families.