A WOMAN is suing a hotel for $7 million after she allegedly had a psychologically traumatizing experience with an employee.
A woman identified as CN has filed a lawsuit claiming she suffered “a heinous and unthinkable invasion of privacy” during her stay at a luxury hotel.
According to the lawsuit, while CN was taking a shower at the St. Regis Bal Harbour resort in Miami Beach, an individual resembling a hotel employee entered her locked room and watched her showering.
She alleges that the intruder opened the bathroom door, pulled aside the shower door, and observed her while she had her back turned to him.
The woman then allegedly turned around and watched as the purported employee exited the bathroom and continued on into the guest’s room.
The plaintiff stated that she was “overcome with panic and fear,” which led her to run from the bathroom completely naked into the room.
She claimed that she began screaming louder and more forcefully at the person to leave.
As he left, he grazed past her naked body, according to the lawsuit.
CN claimed that she deadbolted her door and waited for her boyfriend, who had left earlier that morning to go swimming, to come home.
Once he returned, the couple claimed to have alerted the resort’s security guards about the incident.
CN said she was then contacted by the Resort’s Loss Prevention Manager, Andres Garcia.
The woman alleged that she told Garcia she wanted the police called immediately and that she would contact law enforcement herself.
However, Garcia allegedly replied: “We have a great relationship with the Bal Harbour Police Department . . . Don’t worry . . . We’ll contact them right away.”
CN claimed that Garcia promised to personally investigate the incident and would have a report to her by 4 pm that day.
After talking to the manager, CN and her boyfriend were upgraded to a larger suite for their troubles which the resort then allegedly charged her for.
Later that day, Garcia told the guest that he needed more time to investigate, the lawsuit states.
The guest volunteered to identify the employee if she were given photos to look at, but she claimed the manager told her that was not an option.
The lawsuit claims Garcia said, “I cannot show you photographs of the employees without a subpoena.”
Attorney Justin Shapiro’s statement
Justin Shapiro, Partner, Leesfield & Partners, said:
“This case represents a gross violation of personal privacy and basic safety standards. What’s most egregious is not only the initial misconduct by the hotel worker, but also the hotel’s failure to act appropriately in the aftermath. We are pursuing justice to hold these defendants fully accountable and to prevent future violations of this nature in the hospitality industry.”
CN claimed she didn’t hear from law enforcement until the following day, December 12, 2023, when Officer Lydia Armstrong arrived at her hotel room to discuss the incident.
Armstrong told the plaintiff that she was informed that CN didn’t want the police involved in the incident, the lawsuit stated.
“That’s not true…You told me you had such a great relationship with the police department that you would contact them,” CN allegedly said to Garcia, who was also present at the meeting.
CN claims that the resort “had no intention of contacting law enforcement” and instead obstructed the investigation.
She claimed to have suffered “severe and lasting psychological trauma” and is seeking $7,000,000 in damages from the resort.
Justin Shapiro, the plaintiff’s lawyer, told The U.S. Sun that they are hoping to make a “cultural change” with this case.
“The allegations are that the culture at this hotel was a culture of self-preservation and the culture needs to change if they are to instill trust in their guests that pay handsomely for this quote luxurious and high end resort,” Shapiro said.
“These types of lawsuits do tend to inspire that kind of cultural change, and that’s what we’re seeking to do here.”
Marriott and the St. Regis Bal Harbor resort did not immediately reply to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
