iahphx

I do agree with you that we seem more security conscious in USA hotels than in foreign hotels. For example, in some foreign hotels (not often USA chain hotels), they often ask you to leave the key at the desk when you leave, and you simply ask for it when you return. They don't ask for ID when you pick up the key, so if you look "normal," you could probably grab anybody's key.

Foreigners could also claim that Americans are just more "paranoid" about security than they are -- just like Americans are arguably paranoid with airport security. I personally haven't felt unsafe -- either for my personal safety or my valuables -- in foreign hotels. I guess many of these things are just cultural differences. Of course, had the Finnish desk clerk followed "American protocol" in asking for ID for the victim's room key, this incident would have been averted.

LordLoungeDragon

Is this a true story?

BenSenise

there is an enormous difference between "blaming the victim" and stating that the victim could have avoided the problem by using some common sense.

beltway

+1


Let's put aside the fact that you have no way of knowing whether such "common sense" additional protections were even available. You're still blaming the victim.

If the plaintiff's allegations are true -- which none of us can adequately assess, so it's pointless to argue about it -- then the only blameworthy parties are the assailant and the idiot FDC.

sbrower

Just making this type of statement isn't helpful. Do you disagree that the plaintiff would *not* have encountered this problem *if* they had followed the advice? While that doesn't make them responsible for what happened, it is still true that precautions are helpful.

Let me put it another way. The next time you check into a hotel, leave your money sitting in the hallway. If it is missing, in the morning, the *only* guilty party is the person who took it. Does that mean that you did the right thing?

BenSenise

i'm glad at least someone has some common sense around here.

CNWO4LIFE

She waited 5 months? There goes any credibility.

deirdre

Assuming the room has a deadbolt. I had a rather frightening prepaid stay (via Expedia) with Hotel Pennsylvania, who had NO IDEA who had checked in. Twice I was given keys for occupied rooms. There were no deadbolts on the doors. I always travel with a doorstop (always a good idea), but I had no way of leaving my room and ensuring my stuff would be there. I was afraid to take a bath -- or sleep -- despite the doorstop. Wasn't really enough to make me comfortable, y'know?

Fortunately, it was only a one-night stay. As I was unemployed at the time, it happened to be a hardship to walk somewhere else. If I could have afforded to, I would have.

That's why I carry a doorstop, though.

starpoint_galaxy

A female friend of mine was sexually harassed by one or more male employees of a now "deflagged" Sheraton in Malaysia (near the Thai boarder).

I was in the US at the time, and we talked on the phone constantly, as she was afraid the guys would eventually try to enter her room; but fortunately nothing happened like that; but one or two guys from the front desk constantly called her room and asked her out for drinks, etc.

This is rare in SW properties in my experience; and the property above was "deflagged" as a SW property soon after (not sure the reason for that).

Sexual harassment of guests should be reported immediately to SW management, for the safety of all guests, please.

Flying Lawyer

I had a similar story working as a defence attorney for a big chain close to 20 years ago. My claimant alleged the stranger sneaked in with a key card while she was sleeping and stole a precious watch. At the end of the case it was obvious that the door was only opened once that evening (the key card reader was intelligent), shortly after opening the door a bottle of champagne was bought from the minibar and an adult movie was watched. And the watch had been bought in a duty free without paying duty when entering the country. The lady had quite a bit of problems.....

Dr. HFH

Eh. I'm on both sides of this. Terrible incident, agreed. IF the FD gave out the keycard as described/alleged, it was a serious error which could have had even more serious consequences. The woman was fortunate that she was not injured or assaulted more seriously.

That said, she could and should have used the deadbolt/chain/whatever. Not saying that the assault (if it happened as alleged) is her fault, but the person who has primary responsibility for our own safety and security, regardless of the location and circumstances, is us. Everyone should exerciese reasonable caution.

She starts to lose me, though, by waiting so long after the incident to file suit and by hiring Ms. Allred. Just wondering out loud,.... Did she find herself unable to work and quit her job before or after retaining Ms. Allred? There's probably some type of psychotherapist involved here, too. Did she start seeing the therapist before or after retaining Ms. Allred?

I'm not suggesting that any guest deserves this, but there's a lot of stuff here to suggest that this is an attempted money grab. And Starwood/the hotel will, of course, settle. The last thing they want is for this to go to trial. So they're really only discussing the size of the check. While I believe that the incident happened, and possibly pretty close to as described, her motivation hardly seems terribly altruistic. Is she really interested in ensuring the safety of others, or is she more interested in the size of her own retirement fund?

Just my 2¢.

iahphx

I read some of the comments posted in the original story (there are zillions of them), and I found it interesting that almost every comment was critical of the lawsuit. I suppose people who post on these stories are more cynical of lawsuits and pro-business than the general population, but it seems like people don't automatically sympathize with a woman who seems to be exaggerating her injury -- and who hires an ambulance-chasing lawyer.

Guy Betsy

There has been a few incidents when hotels have accidentally given me a room which has not been cleaned, or given me a room which someone else tried to gain entry but hardly a case to sue the hotel.

Oh, I guess she's just asking for money...

WilcoRoger

Starwood won't be much helped by the comment of Kämp's managing director in today's (or is it yesterday's now?) Finnish press. "It happened between two inviduals in the same party* and our hotel has nothing to do with it"

The Finnish police dropped the case as both parties have left the country but say they can pick it up again if circumstances so require.

* I think it was a congress or similar

Alpha

Not a defensible case at trial.