The family of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner filed a lawsuit against the owners and operators of a Manuel Antonio resort. The action came Friday in federal court in Philadelphia. The suit alleges negligence and wrongful death following the death of 14-year-old Miller Gardner at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort.
Miller died last year during a family vacation. The complaint says carbon monoxide entered the family’s room from a nearby machine room that was not properly ventilated. The exposure caused Miller’s death and injured other relatives, including Brett Gardner. The defendants include David Callan and R. Scott Williams along with Hawk Opportunity Fund LP. The Pennsylvania-based venture capital firm holds ties to the property.
Costa Rican authorities concluded that Miller Gardner died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigators found a carboxyhemoglobin concentration of 64 percent in his blood. That level sits well above the typical fatal threshold. They noted the family’s room sat next to a machine room considered a possible source of contamination.
The case has stayed under investigation in Costa Rica. In September, authorities carried out a second raid at the resort. Prosecutors sought additional evidence tied to the autopsy and looked into whether the death could amount to negligent homicide. Officials said at the time that no one had been charged. During an earlier inspection, they detected carbon monoxide in the room where the Gardner family stayed.
Brett Gardner spent his career with the Yankees from 2008 through 2021. The death drew wide attention in Costa Rica and the United States. The lawsuit now shifts the civil case into U.S. federal court while the Costa Rican investigation continues.
