Ritz sued over sex crime
(CNS): An American family have filed suit against the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman hotel in connection with an allegation of sexual assault by a member of its staff in 2013 on a teenage girl. The suit, which has been filed in the Philadelphia Court, uses a pseudonym Mary Doe for the girl, who was 15 when she was allegedly assaulted by a hotel bellman on a number of occasions when she was vacationing at the 5-star resort on Seven Mile Beach. The family say the hotel was negligent because of poor security and hiring practices.
They are seeking compensation and punitive damages for physical and psychological damage allegedly suffered by their daughter.
According to reports in the US media and court documents, the family arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Hotel on 24 March 2013 and checked into adjoining second floor rooms. They first encountered the bellman a few days later when they asked for restaurant recommendations and he complimented the girl's shirt. The next day he assisted the teen with a pack of playing cards and escorted her to the elevator, then offered a tour of the hotel. During the tour, the complaint says, the bellman grabbed the girl's buttocks, and she jumped and told him “no”.
When they reached the platform on the second floor of the stairwell, he backed her to the wall and sexually assaulted her but fled at the sound of someone approaching, asking her to meet him the next morning. The teen did not meet the bellman but spoke to him briefly when she encountered him later that day. The bellman then alleged organised for another member of staff to call her room to bring her down to the lobby to collect a package. On her way down, the bellman met the teenager and gave her a gift, then accompanied her back to her room, where he sexually assaulted her again
However, the girl then reported the assault to her parents, who immediately contacted the RCIPS but although the suit says he was questioned, there is no indication of any action taken by the authorities. According to the court documents, he denied being in contact with the teenager or entering her room. However, the complaint says, security footage and DNA tests contradicted his denial.
The plaintiffs say that the staff and management at the hotel had a duty to ensure their guests’ safety and prevent harm to their daughter.
Category: Crime
These people come to the cayman islands, and think that because we are passive that we are fools wearing grass skirts and sea shells.. Tipical American doing everything under the sun to get easy money. Well I hope they realize very soon that Cayman people will tell them NOT TODAY BOBO.
She reported this to her parents after the THIRD assault?. Something isn't right.
She was 15 for Christ sakes
Who are they suing and what has it got to do with Pennsylvania?
I supose we should be thankful that they're suing R-C and not RCIPS.
its all about the benjamins….
CNS: Is it true that government is filling in the Salt Water Pond in Cayman Brac?
CNS: I have been told they are "de-mucking". Story coming.
This is absolutely ridiculous! I would support the family for pressing charges on the bellman but suing the Ritz Carlton is despicable! Clearly the fam is looking for a big pay day. This is no different than the lawsuit against mcdonalds years back where a person bought a coffee from drive through window, spilled the coffee while driving and later sued mcdonads because there was no warning the coffee was hot.
That's the US legal system for you. The sad part is that this fam will most likely receive a large settlement out of court as Ritz would not dare to fight it outin the American court system.
How on earth is the hotel at fault?
Umm, an employee of theirs molested a person?
I agree that frivilous lawsuits are a big problem in th US, but that isa terrible example.
The woman in question was hospitalized for 8 days with 3rd degree burns over her gentials and needed skin graphs. There were over 700 reports of people being burnt by McDonalds coffee in the 10 years leading up to the incident but they choose not to do anything about it. Also, the woman tried to settle for only $20,000 to cover medical bills but was refused by McDonalds. A court ruled that McDonalds coffee, at the temperature that is was held at, was unfit for human consuption, they were aware coffee at that temperature will cause 3rd degree burns to the skin in 2-7 seconds.
Again, while it seems silly to sue for having hot coffee, that is a terrible example of a frivilous lawsuit.
Cheers
what a pile of crap!
Just another broke tourist looking to fleece the hotel for money. I do not believe a word of this story.
Some thing is a little "fishy" here……
Something is very odd about this. If all this happened and they reported the matter to the police why wasn't he arrested, especially if as they say there is CCTV evidence? People are arrested for less than that. Where were the DNA tests conducted? Presumably it was here on Island.
I agree with 18.18 that something seems very odd about this story. Why did the teen not report the alleged assault from the first occasion, but instead allowed the Bellman to follow up with a visit to her room? Very, very, strange indeed!!
What, are you new here?
Another scandal? Strange happenings.