Lawsuit claims Las Vegas restaurant blocked CPR after Hallmark actor Michael Heslin's death

A Hallmark movie actor, Michael Heslin, 35, died during a Las Vegas birthday trip after restaurant staff allegedly failed to perform CPR and prevented a bystander from trying to save him, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by his husband.

Heslin collapsed on July 2, 2024, while celebrating his birthday at Javier's restaurant inside the ARIA Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, with husband Scotty Dynamo and friends nearby. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 18, alleges Heslin exhibited obvious signs of a medical emergency and that restaurant staff did nothing to help. It further claims staff interfered with a diner who attempted CPR and, despite the venue having an automated external defibrillator on site, did not retrieve it.

The complaint lists five counts, including wrongful death, loss of consortium, negligence, negligent hiring, retention, training and supervision, and gross negligence, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. The filing says Heslin’s friends were removed from the building while attempts to help were taking place, and that security or staff threatened arrest if the bystander continued to assist. It also notes that witnesses who tried to record the incident were told to delete videos.

The suit seeks damages in excess of $30,000, funeral expenses, and punitive damages on the grounds that Heslin’s death was a direct and proximate result of the defendants’ acts and omissions.

Dynamo, who described Heslin in an Instagram post as young, healthy and with doctors unable to explain the cause of death, said Heslin was brilliant, selfless and a guardian angel. He added that Heslin and he were discussing starting a family just before the tragedy and that Heslin had planned to name their future child after him if possible. Dynamo also said Heslin was an organ donor and had given the gift of life to four families after his passing.

Heslin had appeared in the Zoe Saldana-starring series Lioness and the made-for-TV movie The Holiday Proposal Plan, according to the notes accompanying the lawsuit. The Daily Mail reported that MGM Resorts International did not comment when contacted for a response to the suit.

The case underscores ongoing questions about emergency response practices in high-volume hospitality settings and the potential civil repercussions when lifesaving guidance is not followed. Authorities and managers have not publicly disclosed the outcome of any internal review tied to the incident, and the Las Vegas Review Journal notes that the complaint is the initiating step in a civil case that could proceed to discovery and trial unless settled.

The broader context for the allegations centers on how rapidly responders must act during cardiac events and the legal duty of hospitality venues to provide timely aid and to facilitate bystander intervention where appropriate. Legal experts say wrongful-death filings like this one typically hinge on the existence of a duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation, and damages, with plaintiffs seeking to prove that any lapses in response contributed to a fatal outcome.

For Heslin’s fans and the entertainment community, the lawsuit adds a personal, high-profile dimension to a case that intersects with questions about workplace protocols, bystander rights, and the obligations of restaurants and hotels when medical emergencies arise. The star’s colleagues have spoken in tribute to his character and the potential impact of his loss on future creative projects and personal plans he and Dynamo hoped to pursue.

As the legal process unfolds, observers will be watching to see how the case addresses the sequence of events inside the restaurant, the interchange between staff and patrons, and the steps taken (or not taken) to summon medical assistance and deploy an AED. The outcome could influence how hospitality venues review their emergency-response procedures and training moving forward.