Lawsuit alleges Las Vegas restaurant staff blocked CPR in Hallmark star Mike Heslin's death
A civil filing accuses Javier’s at the Aria Hotel of multiple failures to provide emergency care during Heslin’s medical crisis on a Las Vegas birthday trip; suit seeks damages.
A lawsuit filed Sept. 18 alleges that staff at Javier's at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas blocked CPR during a medical emergency that led to the July death of Hallmark movie star Mike Heslin, 35, on his birthday trip. The suit, filed by Heslin's husband, Scotty Dynamo, accuses the restaurant of multiple failures to provide emergency care, according to documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
Heslin's friends and Dynamo contend he exhibited obvious signs of a medical emergency, but the restaurant did nothing and even forcefully interfered with a nearby diner who attempted to perform CPR. The filing also asserts the venue did not retrieve an automated external defibrillator, despite having one on site, and that others trying to help Heslin were reportedly removed from the resort and threatened with arrest.
The suit alleges restaurant staff prevented other diners from helping, and claims witnesses were pressured to delete videos of the incident. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the restaurant is named in five counts: wrongful death; loss of consortium; negligence; negligent hiring, retention, training and supervision; and gross negligence.
The filing lists five counts against Javier’s and potentially other defendants, including negligent actions that allegedly contributed to Heslin’s death. Dynamo's lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $30,000, plus funeral expenses and punitive damages, according to the suit. Representatives for MGM Resorts and Dynamo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Dynamo announced in July 2024 that Heslin died from an “unexpected cardiac arrest,” saying his partner was “in perfect health” at the time. In a social media post, Dynamo described Heslin as a young man whose doctors had no explanation for the collapse and whose loss was deeply felt by those who knew him.
Heslin was a Hallmark movie actor who gained attention for his work in romantic comedy projects. Dynamo has publicly mourned the loss, sharing personal reflections on Heslin’s impact and expressing heartbreak at the abrupt end of a life described by friends and family as vibrant and healthy prior to the incident.
The case highlights ongoing questions about emergency-response practices at upscale venues in Las Vegas and the responsibilities of staff and management when medical crises arise. It remains to be seen how the civil suit will proceed, including how evidence and witness testimony will be weighed in court. Reps for MGM Resorts and for Scotty Dynamo did not respond to requests for comment.
