Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

A 7-year girl was gang raped at a crime-ridden apartment building in Trenton, New Jersey after her stepsister sold her to a group of men at a party according to news sources. The incident occurred at Rowan Towers owned by Interstate Realty and Management Company. According to news sources, there have been many lapses of security at this apartment building despite complaints by tenants requesting cameras and a lot of other things to improve their security and safety concerns. A spokesperson for the owner stated that they lack the expertise to handle security on their own and will hire an outside consultant. The apartment complex sits on a stretch of West State Street near downtown Trenton surrounded by blocks of abandoned and boarded up homes, yet it is fronted by a well manicured lawn and features a colorful playground and basketball courts. Safety and privacy of tenants and residents should be and must be a top priority for owners and operators of apartment homes. As this case reveals, many times this is simply not the case. Many times accidents such as this occur at apartment complexes due to poor lighting, inadequate security, and lack of easily affordable technology and security devices such as closed circuit cameras. Because of such inadequate security, many unsuspecting guests or tenants are robbed, shot, killed, raped, stabbed, or assaulted.

Continue reading "Rape Of 7-Year Old At Apartment Building Spotlights Inadequate Security Issues" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security , Personal Injury , Premises liability , rape

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The United States hospitality and hotel industry is struggling through one of the worst financial crisis in more than 20 years. I recently stayed at a brand new 5 star luxury hotel in Florida and the desk manager mentioned to me that his occupancy rate was 30%. Occupancy rates nationwide have been hovering at below 60% this summer. Revenue has taken the steepest dive in 22 years according to industry analysts, and hotel analysts do not expect the hotel industry to rebound to profitability until 2011 or later. Not so surprisingly, headlines are now claiming that terrorists are aiming for hotel and other easier to hit “soft” targets as government security measures continue to improve for more noteworthy and populated facilities. Additionally, there has been an increase in criminal activity and premise liability claims in United States hotels.

Despite the increasing threats and criminal activity, many hotel owners and managers have been reluctant to equip buildings with more security measures which are expensive, cumbersome, and serve to inconvenience guests, but in the long run prove to be worthwhile. More than a billion travelers stay at hotels each year and many of them become victims despite the false sense of security that a locked door and staff provide. As hotels cut back on costs and personnel as the recession worsens, several veterans of the hotel industry state there is greater likelihood of increased burglary and criminal assault. These economic times are prompting cuts in security and driving up incidents of theft including thefts and assaults perpetrated by hotel staff and other premise liability offenses.

The experienced premise liability and inadequate hotel security lawyers of Reiff and Bily have received an increasing amount of calls regarding these issues to represent the unfortunate victims. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of inadequate security at a hotel, please feel free to contact one of our lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security

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As an experienced hotel inadequate security and premises liability lawyer, I was quite concerned as I read news reports surrounding the violent stabbing murder of Sara Bejjani at the Essex House in Manhattan by a longtime housekeeping employee.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Ms. Bejjani who had been peacefully residing inside the luxury hotel at the time of her stabbing. Shockingly, according to news sources, the 29-year housekeeping manager had worked for the hotel since he was 17 and was known to have a “flash temper.” According to police, he replied that he “showed up drunk” before his 6:00 a.m. shift on Saturday and used his key to get into Ms. Bejjani’s 10th floor apartment and then admitted “I just lost it.” Police videotaped the confession of the housekeeping manager who had been eyeing the victim for weeks and said he choked Ms. Bejjani who was found with a jump rope up around her neck and then stabbed with a 10-inch bread knife.

Continue reading "Drunken Housekeeping Manager At New York’s Famed Essex House Hotel Confesses To Stabbing Murder Of Resident - Hotel Security Lawyer Weighs In" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security

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As an experienced Philadelphia inadequate security and premises liability lawyer, I have written many articles in the past advocating that the safety and privacy of hotel, motel, resort, cruise ship guests and restaurant and business guests should be the top priority for owners and operators. However, many times this is simply not the case. Usually when we hear news about assaults and crimes in many of these facilities, an easily avoidable tragedy has occurred. Crime analysis and mapping is an important process when conducting a security assessment on the lack of due diligence by a business owner. Many times crime data is available which will indicate that a locale is highly susceptible to criminal incidents. Business owners should take a proactive stance against possible crimes or assaults on their properties.

The experienced inadequate security lawyers at Reiff and Bily have been successful in alleging that safeguards were not proper or adequate to protect their clients who were injured or unfortunately killed from a tragic lack of attention to safety. In our careful evaluation of inadequate security and assault cases, we try to determine a history of similar incidents on the property, the surrounding area and whether or not the location is highly suspect for criminal activity, and if in fact the business knew or should have known of the problems, what they did to prevent an occurrence of a crime event or assault and what preventative measures they had taken, including but not limited to lights, cameras, gates, locks or security guards.

Continue reading "Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping: An Essential Element In The Proper Investigation And Prosecution of A Negligent Security Case" »

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Posted In: Inadequate Security

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According to news sources, Philadelphia police made an arrest in the violent robbery of two tourist at the Philadelphia Marriott located at 12th and Market Streets. According to the news sources, police claimed that Anthony Thomas, 28, of West Philadelphia followed a 52-year old female guest from the elevator to her room shortly before 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 30th. Investigators claim that a knife was put to the throat of the hotel guest and she was robbed. Lt. Frank Vanore of the Philadelphia police stated “He drew knife, he cut the female across the mouth and face and proceeded to demand money from her and threatened to kill her during the course of the incident”. Police also reported that on August 6th, Mr. Thomas forced his way into the room of a Marriott guest from Sacramento, California and robbed her at knife point. Police suspect that the assailant may be involved in a number of other recent robberies in center city Philadelphia.

Inadequate security lawyer, Jeffrey Reiff, of the Philadelphia inadequate security and premises liability law firm of Reiff and Bily has been successfully representing the rights of negligent security cases on behalf of victims of physical assaults or robberies since 1979. The safety and privacy of hotel and motel guests should be the top priority for owners and operators of hotels. However, many times we find this is simply not the case. Because of inadequate security at hotels and motels many unsuspecting guests are robbed, shot, killed, raped, stabbed or assaulted in parking lots, corridors, hallways, rooms or other common areas. Many times there is a breakdown in the property owners security system which cannot only encourage criminal activity but can also result in the property owner’s liability to the crime victim for negligence. First and foremost, our thoughts go out the victims and their families, we hope that these fine and unsuspecting individuals recover quickly and completely from their injuries.

Continue reading "Prominent Philadelphia Hotel Is the Scene Of Violent Assault and Robbery Of Tourists" »

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Posted In: Inadequate Security , Personal Injury , Premises liability , physical assault , rape , robbery , stabbing

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Last month, two women were raped and assaulted in a prominent Boston hotel and additionally, two women were tied up in another New England hotel by an assailant dubbed “The Craiglist Killer”. A USA Today story reported an experienced hotel manager of a Northbrook Illinois hotel was followed into a room by a man and was tied up and choked.
With the downturn in the economy and the recession also comes increased security concerns at a hotel. A greater likelihood of more criminal activity. According to a story published in USA Today, Philip Farina, CEO of Enterprising Securities, a San Antonio company that links security programs for hotels, notes “We are absolutely seeing an increase in crimes at hotels”. Farina also notes that hard economic times are especially driving up incidents of theft including the amount perpetrated by hotel staff. Not so surprisingly, as hotels attempt to stay profitable they are cutting back on necessary security.

The experienced Philadelphia hotel security and inadequate security law firm of Reiff and Bily has been handling hotel assault cases and premise liability assault cases involving hotels since 1979. We believe and the law recognizes that the safety and privacy of hotel/motel resort and cruise ship guests should be the top priority for all owners and operators of the hospitality industry; however, this is often not the case.

Continue reading "Hotel Crime and Security Concerns An Increasing Issue In Recession" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Inadequate Security , Negligence , Personal Injury , Premises liability

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In April a woman was raped and beaten by a stranger in a parking garage of a well known Boston hotel. According to news sources, the Boston police department asked the Radisson Hotel, who owns the garage, to remain quiet about the attack stating that any publicity could “compromise their chance to catch the individuals” according to a hotel spokesman. Sources also revealed that the police arrested a suspect in the rape but only 11 days later after a second victim was attacked in a similarly violent fashion in the same garage. A controversy has now arisen regarding how much information should be released to the public about sexual assaults.

The same news article revealed that police departments across the country did not have uniform guidelines about releasing warnings to the public about a sexual predator. The Philadelphia police claim that they issue electronic bulletins to media outlets every time a woman reports being raped by someone she didn’t know. Lt. Frank Vanore, a spokesman for the Philadelphia police department, is quoted as saying “We feel it is important to notify the public because any one of these could be someone that is a predator”. According to news sources in the Boston case, the first attack occurred on April 19th in the garage at the Radisson Hotel Boston which is located downtown. At approximately 5:30 in the morning, a woman was on the 5th floor in the garage heading to work when a man asked her for directions. The police then say he attacked her and when she started to scream, police said he threatened to throw her to the street below. The attacker raped the woman repeatedly and then ran when he became aware of passerby. On April 30th, a woman identified her attacker from a photo but police could not locate him. At 3:00 a.m. the next morning, less than 12 hours after the alleged rapist was identified, police say he attacked again at the same location at the same garage but this time on the 2nd floor and the second woman claimed that the attacker dragged her by her hair, beat her and raped her. The suspect was arrested later that day.

Incidents like this are not isolated incidents and in fact, are more common than the general public is aware of. Another interesting issue is presented by this case, namely that hotel owners and hotel managers must take all reasonable and necessary steps to make sure that injuries, deaths and criminal activity does not occur to patrons, visitors or workers while on their property. Hotels have a general duty to reasonably protect guests from harm caused by other guests or non-guests and an affirmative duty to make the premises reasonably safe for their guests. An accident or criminal action that takes place on a hotel premises may be grounds for a hotel liability claim or lawsuit. In this instance, the hotel had prior notice of criminal activity on the premises. Hotels have a general obligation to protect their business invitee from “hidden dangers”. This may include the following: installing proper lighting in hallways, stairwells, parking lots and other dark areas and making sure that proper security is enforced when there is notice of criminal activity.

Continue reading "Two Sexual Assaults in One Month At Boston Hotels Raises Many Issues Of Concern" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security , Negligence , Personal Injury , Premises liability , Wrongful Death

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As an experienced inadequate-security lawyer, I have been blogging about security concerns at hotels and resorts for many months prior to the unfortunate occurrence last week at two Mumbai luxury hotels. The terrorist attacks in Mumbai once again reveal that inadequate security is always a risk at a gathering place for travelers and hotel guests.

Continue reading "Mumbai Hotel Attacks Trigger New Debates About Inadequate Hotel Security - Philadelphia Inadequate-Security Lawyer Weighs In" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security

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The Philadelphia inadequate security and premises liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily are receiving more calls than usual concerning breaches of security at resorts and hotels. Traditionally, hotels are filled to capacity during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season; this year however, hotels are not booking up due to the severe economic downturn in the economy. Surveys indicate that there will be 600,000 fewer travelers staying in hotels this Thanksgiving. As a result, hotels will be forced to cut back on their expenditures in areas that will affect the well-being and security of their patrons.

Recently, we have received an unusual number of reports of hotel thefts, assaults and food poisoning. We urge our clients and others to take extra steps to secure themselves, their children and valuables when traveling and staying in hotels.

Sometimes these attacks are from hotel staff and employees; other times they are instigated by outsiders who are improperly on the premises.

If you or a loved one are injured or attacked while staying at a hotel or resort, please feel free to contact the attorneys that specialize in “inadequate security” at the firm of Reiff and Bily so that we may assist you as soon as possible.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security

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PENNSYLVANIA HOTEL LIABILITY LAWYER, PENNSYLVANIA HOTEL LIABILITY LAWYER, JEFFREY REIFF, WEIGHS IN

According to a story published on September 28, 2008 by the Sunday News in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, inspectors for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, responding to consumer complaints at the Holiday Inn in Lancaster County, were surprised when they found a laundry list of offenses. According to the article, when the hotel’s walk-in refrigerator failed, hotel employees moved the contents to a guest room for cooling. The room’s air conditioner was turned all the way down to 65 degrees, 25 degrees higher than the maximum temperature allowed by Pennsylvania State Health guidelines. On the same day of the food inspection, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Officers searched the hotel and found that it was selling liquor without a license and had been doing so for over a year when the ownership changed hands and new owners never sought to renew the liquor license. It is reported that Treasury officials claim that the hotel had failed to pay taxes since July 21st and it is impossible to determine how much the hotel owes due to the fact that the figures come from the hotel’s monthly reports which are not accurate or complete either (according to the report). According to records, the State Department of Revenue placed a lien on the property for $29,259.28 in unpaid sales taxes for November and December 2007. Employees of the hotel paint and even grimmer picture for this Lancaster County Holiday Inn. They state that paychecks have been late, have been bounced and they have been paying insurance premiums out of their paychecks, yet, this hotel is not actually carrying insurance, according to reports.

One employee found this out the hard way when he went in for surgery and was told he did not have insurance, even though he had been paying for it through his employer. It was further reported that housekeeping employees have been instructed to rinse out and reuse disposable supplies in guest rooms. This included refilling used shampoo bottles and rinsing out and reusing trash bags. It was further reported that utilities and cable have been shut off at the hotel for failure to pay bills and that the building has failed fire code inspections as well.

Continue reading "HOLIDAY INN IN LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA DOESN’T PLAY BY THE RULES - ARE THEY PUTTING THEIR CUSTOMERS AT RISK?" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Inadequate Security , Personal Injury , Premises liability

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Imagine this scenario, you go to a restaurant or franchise later in the evening to enjoy a meal and you are assaulted, stabbed or shot by one of the restaurant’s employees. Imagine another scenario, you are at your home, order takeout, and the delivery man comes and assaults or kills you or a loved one.

In the last few months, Philadelphia personal injury attorney, Jeffrey Reiff, was contacted by individuals who had each suffered a separate and catastrophic incident as mentioned above.

Many restauranteurs employ security systems, attend conferences, hire the best security consultants and set forth rules to insure a safe, crime free workplace and the safety of their customers and employees. But despite the focus on security, horrible crimes are defeating the best systems in place. According to an article published in Nations Restaurant News (www.nrn.com) since 2003, 341 restaurant employees and an unknown number of guests have been murdered on restaurant properties according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although the number of deaths fell more than 25% between 2003 and 2004, the number is headed north again, jumping nearly 21% from 73 deaths in 2005 to 88 deaths in 2006.

The NRN article quotes Chris McGoey, head of Crime Doctors, a security consulting firm with offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, “All the studies I’ve seen say that late night retail and your businesses (restaurants) are the leading sites of employee homicides in the United States and the number one place for male fatalities in the workplace”. Mr. McGoey goes on to state “As more chains open 24 hours, we will experience more workplace violence, serious injuries and death in the restaurant business because I don’t think your industry gets it”.

Continue reading "AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO WORSEN, RESTAURANTS EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO LIABILITY AND OTHERS TO HARM WITH INCREASED LATE NIGHT HOURS, INADEQUATE SECURITY AND IMPROPER BACKGROUND CHECKS ON EMPLOYEES - A PHILADELPHIA INADEQUATE SECURITY LAWYER WEIGHS IN." »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Inadequate Security , Personal Injury , Premises liability

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The safety and privacy of hotel guests should be the top priority for hotel owners and operators. Many times, this simply is not the case. Many hotels, cruise ships and apartment homes are actually full of poorly lit corridors, tunnels, nooks and crannies, and other places were crimes can be and are easily committed. Lack of security in hotels, motels, apartment houses and on cruise ships is a big issue for the tourism and rental housing industry and also an issue that we do not often hear too much about. Usually when we do hear about it, an easily avoidable tragedy has occurred.

Recently, a hotel security guard, with an unrevealed lengthy arrest record, sexually assaulted a teenage occupant of a hotel in Panama City Beach, Florida and then threw his victim from a sixth floor balcony, according to Panama City Florida police. The girl hit two lower roofs, landing in a second floor stairwell, suffering serious injuries. The security guard was questioned by police and released without realizing that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant from the State of Indiana. This attack happened at 1:00 a.m. at a Panama City Beach resort where the security guard was on duty and supposed to be protecting guests from such an event. Research after the violent crime indicated that the security guard had an extensive criminal history, including convictions for burglary, escape, auto theft and receiving stolen property, as well as shoplifting and marijuana possession charges. (article)

Hotel owners, apartment owners and cruise ship operators must be oriented towards security of their guests in today’s world and they must insure that the proper security equipment is installed, maintained and regularly used, and that security guards have their employment and criminal backgrounds properly checked. Technology is an important part in meeting today’s security requirements. Surprisingly, a survey conducted of hotel managers by The Cornell School of Hotel Administration revealed that most hotels made no changes to safety and security staffing or procedures in the year following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Many times horrific injuries and incidences occur at hotels and motels due to poor lighting, inadequate security, locks that do not function, and the lack of easily affordable and available technological security devices such as closed circuit cameras. Because of such inadequate security, many unsuspecting guests are robbed, shot, killed, rape, stabbed or assaulted in hotels, motels, shopping malls, apartment parking lots, office buildings, condos and/or cruise ships.

Continue reading "SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF HOTEL GUESTS IS A TOP PRIORITY; ARE YOU REALLY SAFE WHEN YOU CHECK INTO YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME - A PENNSYLVANIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER SHARES HIS THOUGHTS" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Inadequate Security , Negligence , Personal Injury , Premises liability

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