A Miami woman is suing St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort for $7 million after a hotel worker allegedly entered her bathroom while she was showering, made physical contact with her, and then fled while management attempted to obstruct justice by discouraging police involvement and destroying evidence.
Key Takeaways
- A female guest, identified as C.N., is suing St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort for over $7 million after a hotel worker allegedly entered her bathroom while she was showering on December 11, 2023.
- Hotel management allegedly discouraged the victim from contacting police, cleaned the room destroying potential evidence, and refused to show photographs of employees working during the incident.
- The lawsuit names Marriott International, St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, and Clearview Building Services as defendants, citing gross negligence, invasion of privacy, and obstruction of justice.
- The victim claims she suffered severe psychological distress requiring ongoing medical care, yet was charged for a room upgrade following the traumatic incident.
- Neither Marriott International nor Clearview Building Services have publicly commented on the pending litigation.
Disturbing Privacy Violation at Luxury Miami Resort
A female guest at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami has filed a lawsuit seeking over $7 million in damages after experiencing a horrifying invasion of privacy. The plaintiff, identified in court documents only as C.N., alleges that on December 11, 2023, while showering in her hotel room bathroom, a male hotel employee in uniform unlawfully entered her locked room, opened the shower door, and stood staring at her while she was naked. Despite her demands for the intruder to leave immediately, the man allegedly remained in the bathroom and only exited after making physical contact with her as he departed.
“I was screaming hysterically—screaming at the top of my lungs,” According to the C.N.
Hotel’s Alleged Cover-Up Attempts
The lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County details disturbing allegations about the hotel’s response following the incident. According to court documents, hotel supervisors actively discouraged C.N. from contacting law enforcement, suggesting they would handle the situation internally due to their “great relationship” with the Bal Harbour police. This delay in reporting allegedly allowed the hotel to clean the room, effectively destroying potential forensic evidence that could have been crucial to identifying the perpetrator.
“They told us they have such a great relationship with the Bal Harbour police and that I don’t need to call them and that they will handle everything.”
When C.N. finally contacted police approximately 24 hours after the incident, critical evidence had already been removed. Adding insult to injury, hotel management reportedly refused to show C.N. photographs of employees who were on duty at the time of the incident, further hampering identification efforts. Perhaps most shocking, the victim claims she was charged for a room upgrade following the traumatic event, demonstrating a stunning lack of compassion and responsibility from the luxury establishment.
“I waited 24 hours to call the police. In that time they [hotel employees] made sure they had the room cleaned, so there was no effort to protect me – they were protecting the perpetrator.”
Legal Accountability and Industry Implications
Justin Shapiro, a partner at Leesfield & Partners representing C.N., has been vocal about the gravity of the case and its broader implications for the hospitality industry. The lawsuit names not only the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort but also its parent company Marriott International and Clearview Building Services, the staffing agency responsible for hotel employees. The complaint alleges gross negligence, invasion of privacy, and obstruction of justice, seeking damages exceeding $7 million for the severe psychological distress requiring ongoing medical treatment that C.N. has suffered.
“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,” Stated Justin Shapiro.
Shapiro has also suggested a disturbing pattern within the industry where proper background checks of employees are often neglected, potentially allowing predatory individuals access to vulnerable guests. Neither Marriott International nor Clearview Building Services have issued public statements regarding the allegations, as the case prepares to move forward in court unless a settlement is reached. This lawsuit serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of guest safety protocols and appropriate crisis management in the hospitality industry.
