Marriott Hotel: Rape Victim Was Careless, Negligent

STAMFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut hotel where a woman was raped at gunpoint in front of her children says the victim was careless and negligent.

The papers filed last month in Superior Court by the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa say the victim "failed to exercise due care for her own safety and the safety of her children and proper use of her senses and facilities."

Prosecutors say Gary Fricker assaulted the woman in her minivan in the hotel's parking garage in front of her two children, then ages 3 and 5. Fricker is now serving 20 years in prison.

The hotel's lawyers were responding to a lawsuit claiming the hotel failed to prevent the 2006 attack.

In court filings, the woman's lawyers have denied those allegations.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://www.stamfordadvocate.com

Comments

[Concerned11]

I received this from Marriott after I expressed my concern regarding the horrible incident at their hotel in Connecticut and how this has been handled. I am using this for my personal use, as I personally wrote to them:

Dear Valued Guest,

Thank you for contacting Marriott.

We wish to convey our respect and sympathy for Ms. Doe and her family, who were the victims of a horrendous crime at one of our franchised hotels in 2006. Fortunately, the perpetrator has been caught, convicted and is serving time for his offense.

It was a mistake to suggest that the victim of this tragic incident was responsible for the vicious crime against her. As soon as we learned that this offensive language was included by the insurance company’s defense lawyers in their response to Ms. Doe’s civil suit, we asked that it be withdrawn and it was on Monday, August 17.

This incident is not reflective of our corporate culture or ethical standards, and we apologize to all of our guests and customers who were so deeply offended by the words used in the legal pleading.

Regards,
Marriott Customer Care

This communication contains information from Marriott International, Inc. that may be confidential. Except for personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorized by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.

[renay81]

I don't understand how Marriot can say that they are not responsible for anything. Just like Casino's have security for their parking garages, I'm sure Marriot has enough money to do the same they just failed to do so. Now they want to put the blame on the victim! Really!

I'm never staying at any hotel thats affiliated with Marriot, I don't care if it means I have to sleep in an airport, car, wherever.

[Alex02139]

Marriott is notorious for lies.

Contact:
President: arne.soren­­son@marri­o­tt.com
General Counsel: edward.rya­­n@marriot­t­.com
Owners: david.marr­­iott@marr­i­ott.com, john.marri­­ott@marri­o­tt.com

[TheLar]

um... I'm not a lawyer, but I'm thinking that the hotel could have went with the "we can't control a criminal who comes on to our property" defense instead of this stupidity.

[Jyoti Naik]

Mariott's reply to my letter complaining about this incident

"Dear Valued Guest,

Thank you for contacting Marriott.

We wish to convey our respect and sympathy for Ms. Doe and her family, who were the victims of a horrendous crime in 2006.

Marriott is profoundly sorry that such a terrible thing happened to the victim of this violent crime. And unfortunately this situation has created a mistaken impression that Marriott lacks respect and concern for Ms. Doe or other victims of violent crime.

However, out of respect for the privacy of the victim and the expectations of the Court in the pending litigation, we are not at liberty to comment on the claims or defenses in this case.

Regards,
Marriott Customer Care

This communication contains information from Marriott International, Inc. that may be confidential. Except for personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorized by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law."

[Paul-in-CT]

I posted below in response to the post by voiceofreason69 identifying Paul Slager and Silver Golub & Teitell as the hotel's attorneys. Just to reiterate: I am Paul Slager. My partner Ernie Teitell and I represent the victim in this matter, and NOT the Marriott defendants.

[Norwalkgirl]

This woman and her children lived through a horrifying ordeal at the hands of a madman and I truly beleive she has an amazing strength that drove her to get herself and her children out alive. I'm sure a lot of people reading this story do not know the full details of this attack and how terrifying it was, what that creep put this family through. I think the actions of the so-called "insurance attorneys" are dispicable and an insult not only to the victim but to anyone who has suffered any type of abuse. I hope this has not been an emotional setback for the victim. It thankfully seems that most comments I've read on this and other sites have been supportive of her/anti-Marriot. She and her family are in my thoughts and prayers.

[zacharyzoe]

I replied to the comment listed below; to reiterate the firm and attorney listed below are representing the victim, not the Marriott corporation.

[OLDDAVE]

The response the the lawsuit by the Marriott organization is really not surprising. The Marriott Corporation is not owned by the Marriott family, and has not been for some time. It is owned by a holding company owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - the Mormons. Given their long-time position about rape-that it is almost always something that the woman brought on herself-the response to the lawsuit is to be expected.

[MrCool]

When we go to Washington we stay at the J. W. Marriott. It is the Marriott Bothers, "Flagship," hotel and named after their father. We will no longer stay there. It is very expensive and has always been considered a treat.The money we will save will go to Focus Adolescent Services, www.focusas.com They save the lives of American Children. For decades they have helped teens who have been abused; either sexually or physically. They also help in many other ways. They need my money more than the Marriott's do. They do good while the Marriott bothers hire lawyers who want to avoid blame, and avoid accountability. I would urge others to give focusas.com a gift too, the price of a cup of coffee. I am told that two million Americans visit their web site a month. Their services are FREE. I am also told that for a web site that does not sell something that 24 million visitors is a lot. I think that says a lot about our country and the problems our children are having.

[MrCool]

When we go to Washington we stay at the J. W. Marriott. It is the Marriott Bothers, "Flagship," hotel and named after their father. We will no longer stay there. It is very expensive and has always been considered a treat.The money we will save will go to Focus Adolescent Services, www.focusas.com They save the lives of American Children. For decades they have helped teens who have been abused; either sexually or physically. They also help in many other ways. They need my money more than the Marriott's do. They do good while the Marriott bothers hire lawyers who want to avoid blame, and avoid accountability. I would urge others to give focusas,com a gift too, the price of a cup of coffee. I am told that two million Americans visit their web site a month. Their services are FREE

[unhappytaxpayer]

How dare Marriott claim it was the victims fault for the assult. They are using the logic of 50+ years ago that women were at fault for any attacks on them because of what they wore or they were in the wrong place etc. With that logic - banks have to claim some responsibility when they are robbed as banks advertise they have money or department stores have to shoulder some of the blame for shop lifters as the stores displays all their merchandise laid out for the taking. Marriott s logic is the same as the in the Turkish world where women are required to cover them selves so as not to attract unwanted attention - it's NOT the womans fault what goes on in someone elses thinking. Marriott was aware this man was lurking about - what did they do to protect their customers? For SHAME!!!

[SherryB59]

I think Marriott should stop touting themselves as a family place. All the articles I read elsewhere about this crime claim the guy was lurking on their property for days. They let a perfect stranger lurk about where he could threaten and attack their customers but they have the nerve to pass the buck and claim it was her fault she was attacked. I think her lawyers should add an Additional Count to their Complaint citing harrassment and defamation. If they are unable to add it to the original Complaint then they should file a new one. And, women's groups against this type of thing should help fund the action, after all, it forwards their agendas too. I feel for this woman and her family, both the original crime and this insult should never have happened, AND MARRIOTT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH.

[bikeress2009]

Well this infoms ofther women who would be traveling where to NOT for the night.

[zacharyzoe]

I am so incensed -- I emailed the following to John and David Marriott:

I rec'd the standard form letter from your customer relations department regarding the Stamford Rape Case.

I have emailed the original article from the Stamford Advocate and the reprint from the Huffington Post to my friends.

I do not forward emails; I am too busy. But this article and your corporation's deplorable handling of this rape case truly moved me to action. Reading the numerous comments posted following the HuffPo article solidified my distaste for all things Marriott.

Your actions have revealed your true nature as a corporation. Perhaps other corporations are similar; but your behavior has removed any doubt.

[ileana422]

While it is unfortunate what happen to the victim, the Hotel is not at fault. The Hotel cannot provide a personal bodyguard for each of their customers. The remark they made that she was at fault, was very in sensitive. Women are not at fault for a rape but at the same time, Hotels are not either. They did not put the rapist there to do the crime. If she was visiting the Hotel, and she brought her 2 kids with her, she should have been more careful. She is responsible for her kids, not the Hotel. I have heard of a woman being raped at Walmart, are we going to sue Walmart for this too. Everyone, including men, need to be careful whenever they go anywhere. They need to look around before you open your doors, see if anyone if around that could be a problem, don't just open the door & step out. You need to take care of yourself and you children. If not, than hire a personal bodyguard to protect you and your family.

[kareemachan]

So that gets the hotel off the hook for letting the guy loiter there a for a couple of days?

And aside from what you think about this case, would you really stay at this chain? Honestly, now.

[bluevase]

The hotel is responsible for providing security.

[voiceofreason69]

The hotel doesn't have to provide a security guard for each guest, but they can put them out in plain sight throughout the garage.

[nycfirm]

In response to ileana422, I think you are VERY misguided. A hotel is inviting the general public onto its private property and therefore the hotel foresees and indeed invites its PAYING guests to walk through that parking lot.

Therefore the hotel MUST use reasonable care in creating a safe environment in that parking lot including providing adequate lighting and supervision.

The hotel should not be inviting its paying guests to walk through an unsupervised, dark parking lot where transients may assault its unsuspecting patrons, on private hotel premises!

[theubermensch]

That was nice of the hotel. That evil emotion called empathy is still years away from reaching the American public. I feel for the mother and her kids. They should also put whoever said the woman wasn't cautious enough in jail with the rapist. Yeah, it was the woman's fault. Oh bot I love this country.