Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

In 2008, a gentleman was shot while parking his car at an Embassy Suites Hotel in Florida. The victim was instructed to park his car in a dimly lit area of the parking lot even though it was 50 to 60 feet from the hotel entrance. Although a critical flood light had been installed to illuminate the area where the victim parked his car, it was not working on the night of the shooting despite the fact that the Assistant Hotel General Manager testified at trial contra to evidence that all the lights were working and the parking lot was “perfect”. It is important to note that a similar strong armed robbery had occurred in the same parking lot ten days earlier.

During the trial, evidence was introduced indicating that a security guard on the premises was delivering “bell carts” and responding to “guest requests” 25 minutes prior to the shooting rather than providing security of any kind. Evidence revealed that the security guard spent more time responding to guest requests for bell carts, towels, and bed items than providing security and controlling the exterior of the hotel on the evening of the shooting.

Continue reading "Attack in Hotel Parking Lot Results in $1.7 Million Dollar Verdict" »

As a hotel inadequate security and hotel attack attorney who has investigated a large number of hotel attack claims, I often listen to representatives of a hotel company or their insurance carriers state that due to the age of the hotel, they are unable to possess the latest in technology. Frankly, this argument has never made much sense to me due to the fact that the latest technology is quite sophisticated when it comes to terms of size and installation of cameras, lighting, fiber optic cabling, and wireless transmission of data. What many hotels have in common is wasted excess space or exterior barriers of security perimeters where vagrants or assailants may lie in wait for a victim.

I spend many nights a year away from my home in strange hotels with my carefully trained eyes and senses fully tuned for security breaches and means of crime and attack prevention. I believe that the first step in hotel security lies with the proper training of all staff members from the “bottom up" so that they are vigilant for any unusual activities which may give reason to believe that criminal activity is afoot. When a maid goes into a room to clean it or an engineer goes into a room to repair something, if he notices anything outside of the ordinary, it must immediately be reported to hotel management who prudently should investigate the situation in further detail. Employee education is step one in insuring the safety and security of hotel guests.

In inner cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, or Atlanta, most hotels are located in highly trafficked areas, and if the hotel is not large enough to employ their own security personnel, it is important for the hotel to regularly undergo a security evaluation by those trained in security and human awareness behavior patterns.

If the hotel owners or operators state that the hotel is too old for security (poor excuse) or they are not willing to take proper steps to protect their guests, it signals to this experienced hotel attack and breach of security lawyer that the safety of their guests is not priority number one and they are more interested in profitability, no matter what the costs.

All hotels should also conduct evacuation and security drills and focus on the identification of strange and suspicious packages and behavior of those who enter the premises.

In larger cities such as New York and Washington, D.C., the police department and Department of Homeland Security work very closely with hotels to keep them in the loop of any elevated threats or concerns. If a hotel is located in an area where the hotel property owner or management is aware of crime in the immediate or surrounding areas, they have a mandatory obligation to take steps to secure their premises including hiring highly qualified security guards who have undergone careful background checks. Unfortunately many times horrific injuries, attacks, and tragic accidents occur at hotels, motels, resorts, or restaurants due to poor lighting, inadequate security, and the failure to provide easily affordable technology and security devices such as closed circuit cameras and proper lighting.

Ignorance of a dangerous situation can lead to a victim or victim’s family holding the hotel liable for monetary damages if a mandated security protocol is not followed to insure visitors or guests' safety.

The Pennsylvania premise liability and hotel inadequate security law firm of Reiff and Bily always offers a free, no obligation consultation to those who have suffered a physical assault, robbery, or sexual assault due to negligent security. If you would like a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

When a condominium or apartment complex falls into disrepair, lacking improper security measures such as door locks, light fixtures, and a security system, a likely scenario can be presented for a criminal assault and/or killing. This event often gives rise to civil monetary damages if a lawsuit is filed by a victim or estate of a victim.

In Pennsylvania, as well as many other states, the law recognizes that the safety and privacy of condominium and apartment dwellers should be the top priority for all owners and operators. However as experience reveals, many times this is simply not the case. Unfortunately, throughout my 30 year career of practicing premise liability and inadequate security law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as co-counseling on other cases throughout the United States, we have investigated and litigated claims with tragic consequences that were easily avoidable.

Recently a case was resolved in Florida when a condominium owner who was walking to his car one day, was shot and killed, leaving two sons behind. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the victim’s estate alleging inadequate security and also claiming that the property owner had hired an incompetent property manager with a criminal background who was unqualified to perform his duties.

In another case handled by our office, a young woman walking to her car at an apartment complex was sexually assaulted by a third party in a poorly lit parking lot area, and we were successful in recovering a substantial monetary result. Today more than ever technology is an important part of meeting security requirements, and inadequate security at a hotel, motel, condominium, or apartment house can result in the property owner’s liability to the crime victim for negligence.

For over 30 years, the experienced inadequate security and premise liability lawyers of Reiff and Bily have worked carefully with law enforcement officials and skilled investigators to analyze the circumstances of a personal injury resulting from inadequate security. We have examined past instances of victim abuse at the location and surrounding areas that should have put the property owner on actual and constructive notice that the facility was potentially dangerous to customers, visitors, or inhabitants. The inadequate security and hotel and apartment attack lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to protecting the rights of injured victims and consumers since 1979 and always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The Mississippi Supreme Court upheld a $4 million dollar jury award for a couple robbed and injured in 2008 at a Jackson, Mississippi extended stay motel. During an attack at the hotel, the victims sustained facial damage and a permanent eye injury, as well as post traumatic stress disorder after hearing the assailants talk about a rape during the physical attack. Although the victim was not raped and the three assailants were never captured, the verdict insures that the motel guests will now have necessary money for medical care. Additionally as a result of the verdict, a significant message was sent to the motel who subsequently upgraded motel security making it a safer place for customers and employees.

As an experienced Pennsylvania hotel attack, and negligent security lawyer, it is important that hotel owners and operators be held accountable when they fail to protect their customers from crime and attacks. While many of us read bold advertisements boasting about new and special beds or renovated rooms, it is essential for hotel and motel operators to insure the safety and privacy of motel guests as a top priority. As experienced hotel attack and negligent security lawyers, we are very well aware that this is not always the case. In the instant case, the facts reveal that the hotel operator had ignored the safety of its employees and customers. Facts were alleged stating that the manager had been robbed four times at gun point in the six months leading up to the victims attack and the manager of the hotel was begging the corporate office for a security guard to protect the guests and employees of the hotel and he was turned down. The couple alleged in the lawsuit that the hotel operator knew or should have known that it had inadequate security and that strangers, trespassers, and loiters frequently came into the property.

Since 1979, the experienced premises liability and inadequate security and hotel attack lawyers of the Philadelphia personal injury law firm of Reiff & Bily have aggressively represented clients who have been injured on another’s premises. If you or a loved one has sustained a physical injury or robbery due to negligent security or hotel attack, it is best to contact an experienced hotel attack and negligent security lawyer to begin an immediate investigation into your case, as well as preserve evidence to properly prepare your case. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. We are greedy for justice in protecting the rights of injured consumers since 1979. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Many hotels and motels are now requiring housekeepers and security staff to know more than how to clean. For security purposes, hotel maids are being taught to become more savvy about signs of dangerous drugs left behind by guests or in rooms that would indicate the potential for suspicious behavior. Some hotel and motel officials claim that rooms were rented temporarily and set up as drug manufacturing or meth labs. Obviously this presents a dangerous situation for other guests or employees in the hotel, as well as preventing employees and other guests from the dangers of exposure to chemicals utilized in the drug manufacturing process. Housekeepers are advised to keep their eyes peeled for danger signs left in rooms including but not limited to acetone, Muriatic acid, Ephedrine based cold tablets, bunsen burners, blow torches, or liter plastic bottles filled with tubes. Hotel security has also been advised to express concern to motel or hotel operators if they see many garbage bags in a room or a lot of matchbook covers left behind and are increasingly being trained to watch out for abnormal behavior.

Hotel attacks in inadequate security or negligent security cases generally involve the failure of motel and hotel owners to implement reasonable and ordinary safety and security measures for the protection of their customers from crime. The experienced Philadelphia hotel attack and inadequate security lawyers of Reiff & Bily know that in a tightened economy many hotel and motel owners and operators take shortcuts as they are more often concerned about profits rather than safety. Unfortunately our skilled and experienced Pennsylvania hotel and motel injury and attack lawyers learn about inadequate security or hotel attack cases after an easily avoidable tragedy occurs.

Continue reading "Many Hotel Workers and Maids Are Being Trained To Identify Signs Of Dangerous Drugs When Cleaning Rooms and Bathrooms - Hotel Attack and Inadequate Security Lawyer Weighs In" »