After a two-week trial, a jury returned a unanimous verdict against Holiday Inn in a case where the hotel receptionist gave a key to a sexual predator who then let himself into a hotel room and molested a 29-year-old woman.
According to Callahan & Blaine who represented the victim, the perpetrator, who was noticeably intoxicated from drugs and alcohol, propositioned the receptionist for sex in exchange for $100 before asking for a replacement key for “his” room. The receptionist did not obtain identification from the man, and provided him a key to the plaintiff’s room, not once, but twice. The perpetrator entered the victim’s room and molested her. He was caught on surveillance tape leaving the room with his pants down. He was convicted of the molestation and sentenced to 3 years in prison.
The receptionist testified at trial that she was not trained to obtain identification from guests before giving replacement keys. The Holiday Inn claimed it was not at fault because the molestation was “unforeseeable”. However, the receptionist and manager of the Holiday Inn Express admitted in trial that they knew violations such as rape could happen if the wrong person is provided a key.
The Plaintiff was represented by Brian McCormack of Callahan & Blaine. The trial was held at Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield, California.
The case is Davick v. Holiday Inn Express, et al. (BCV-16-101353) in the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, Bakersfield.
