GALVESTON - Fertitta Hospitality Inc. and Hilton Worldwide are targets of a lawsuit from a woman claiming she was raped at their Galveston hotel last year.
According to court papers filed June 10 in Galveston County District Court, a security guard at the Hilton Galveston Island Resort sexually assaulted plaintiff Diana Buckner on Aug. 26, 2012.
The suit asserts the guard, who is not a defendant in the case, provided Buckner a suite.
He used his status as an employee to improperly gain access to the suite, and once he had gained access, he proceeded to wrongfully restrain the plaintiff and repeatedly sexually assaulted and raping her, the original petition says.
It adds the incident in question left the complainant with injuries to her head, lumbar spine, cervical spine, tailbone and other parts of her body.
Buckner cites the respondents for respondeat superior, accusing them of negligently hiring and supervising the guard.
They are faulted for:
- Failing to exercise reasonable care;
- Failing to reasonably protect the complainant;
- Failing to keep the premises safe;
- Failing to properly hire, train and supervise security personnel;
- Failing to provide a safe place;
- Failing to implement policy and procedures for checking in all guests; and
- Failing to provide adequate security.
Consequently, Buckner seeks a minimum of $100,000 in damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by attorney Stephen P. Carrigan of Carrigan, Cook, Anderson PLLC in Houston.
Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the case.
Case No. 13-CV-771