Ocean Casino readies $1.5M claim against Atlantic City over fire response damage

Ocean Casino in Atlantic City is preparing legal action against the city, claiming that the way its Fire Department handled a small blaze in July led to far greater damage than the fire itself. The planned lawsuit seeks $1.5 million, according to a report from the Press of Atlantic City.

The incident began on the morning of July 27, when heavy smoke prompted casino staff to call the Fire Department. Firefighters found a small fire in the venue's linen room, which reportedly produced burning debris and required intervention. While extinguishing it, crews are said to have released a large volume of water into the building.

The casino alleges that the water brought down part of the hotel lobby ceiling and affected elevator shafts and staff hallways. It also claims that firefighters caused a burst pipe. Guests reported soaked lobby rugs and water in front of the elevators, and the casino says flooding reached the gaming floor and forced it to close. Some guests left early as a result.

The disruption also hit operations. Although the hotel stayed open, Ocean Casino says it had to cancel a $30,000 slot tournament, dealt with a wave of cancellations and paid compensation to affected customers. It states that the shutdown of the casino floor cost it at least $1 million in missed revenue.

The claimed expenses include architectural and engineering fees, repairs to the lobby ceiling, new carpets and tiling, restoration of damaged gambling equipment and replacement of LED panels. The casino accuses the Fire Department of gross negligence and wanton damage.

The floor reopened as quickly as possible, and the property has resumed normal operations while repair work continues. No ruling or response from the city was included in the report, and the allegations remain unproven as the dispute heads toward a possible court case.