Woman Claims Hotel Gave Drunken Man Her Room Key

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A New York business woman is suing Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, claiming staff at one of their hotels gave her room key to a drunken man who allegedly sexually assaulted her in her bed. Alison Fournier announced the suit today at a news conference with women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred.

According to the suit, Fournier was in her locked room in Hotel Kämp, a hotel operated by Starwood Hotels in Helsinki, Finland, on the night of Jan. 15, 2011 when she was sexually assaulted.

The man, who was "visibly intoxicated," had undressed, slipped into her bed, and proceeded to grope her naked body, the suit says.

Fournier, who is represented by Allred and the New York firm Cuti Hecker Wang LLP, is suing the company for negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress for an amount to be determined at trial.

Fournier was traveling to Helinski for work and said that she specifically chose a Starwood hotel because of the company's reputation.

"Starwood is the go-to brand for business travelers and I expected a certain level of security from their hotels," Fournier said in a statement.

But instead of security, Fournier said she found susceptibility.

According to a release that Allred sent out, a man approached Fournier the night of the incident, expressing a sexual interest in her. According to Allred, Fournier had made it very clear that she was not interested in him and retreated to her room to get away.

That same man, according to the suit, later went to the front desk, said that he was Fournier's husband, and obtained a key from hotel staff to her room.

The staff did not ask him for any identification or proof that he was in fact Fournier's husband, according to the lawsuit. He then proceeded to her room and tried to molest her. She awoke, grabbed a housecoat, and ran screaming from the room.

"To this day, I still suffer from the memories of that night and I am still not able to put it behind me," Fournier said.

She said that, because of the incident, she left her career and moved from New York to be closer to her family.

The suit alleges that there is no indication that Starwood has taken any action to investigate the incident at Hotel Kämp or to disassociate itself from the Finnish hotel.

In a statement given to ABC News by Starwoods Hotels and Resorts, Worldwide, the company said it is investigating the incident.

"The safety and security of our guests is our first and foremost priority. It is company-wide policy to ensure proper identification is shown and verified before distributing a key to a registered guest's room," the statement said. "We are taking this allegation seriously and are working with the hotel in question to understand the facts and any breach of security that may have contributed to this very unfortunate event. "

Allred said the case is representative of a bigger problem than a personal assault, because women, particularly businesswoman, have a right to feel safe when traveling and staying at well known hotels.

"Business women have a right to safety and security and especially need that safety and security when traveling abroad," Allred told ABC News. "They are particualrly vulnerable when traveling alone. Starwood's negligence, misconduct and reckless disregard for the safety of Ms. Fournier has led to devastating and life changing consequences for her. ... They need to be fully accountable and make sure that this never happens again."

http://gma.yahoo.com/woman-claims-hotel-gave-drunken-man-her-room-221452428--abc-news.html

[Harsh_77 718]

This just seems some bogus claim, there are no police records seems police was not even called.

And all hotel rooms have deadbolts and a door latch, which cannot be opened from outside.

I stay in starwood properties all the time and never had a bad experience.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Harsh_77

[Danno 1,228]

<<<<The staff did not ask him for any identification or proof that he was in fact Fournier's husband, according to the lawsuit. He then proceeded to her room and tried to molest her. She awoke, grabbed a housecoat, and ran screaming from the room. >>>>>

Life is not perfect, mistakes happen, in this case the results were a woman escaped an assault buy a drunk guy.

No doubt she's not the first woman to experience that.

Not trying to down play the incident but it would seem the victim is overplaying it.

Does this really warrant a national news story?

The idea that somehow if we just work hard enough every store, every motel, every business can create a foil-proof environment where incidents like this are prevented 100% of the time is crazy.

The bad person first and foremost is the Drunk guy.

SHe is due some compensation for what could have been worse but nowhere near what her and her high dollar lawyer are aiming for.

One might ask why she did not throw the latch across the door as I always do before sleep, she has an expectation of security but we must play our part in doing what we can.... and using the internal lock is the last form of security provided by the hotel..... she dropped the ball too.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Danno

[Obama 2012 1,714]

so she's saying men have to be drunk to want to climb into bed with her?

[slim 1,530]

Gloria Allred should hook up with Al Sharpton. They're basically the same person.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Gloria Allred should hook up with Al Sharpton. They're basically the same person.

except Sharpton is far more feminine.

[slim 1,530]

except Sharpton is far more feminine.

His hair is prettier!

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I have to agree with the earlier comment that hotel room doors come equipped with internal locks, deadbolts and/or some othr lock from the inside. No police report? Very fishy story indeed!

[luckytxn 2,265]

Room service.