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Hotel Industry News |
Saturday November 22nd, 2008 |
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West Virginia Hotel Files Appeal with State Supreme Court |
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CHARLESTON, W.Va., Oct. 1 Attorneys for the Comfort Inn of Charleston, W.Va. today announced that the company has appealed a recent jury verdict in Circuit Court to the West Virginia State Supreme Court. |
In April, Hi-Lad Inc., a West Virginia corporation known as the "Comfort Inn" Motel, was found to be liable to one of its front desk employees for $100,000 in compensatory damages, and $400,000 in punitive damages, simply for having a video security system installed that was directed toward the front desk of the motel and had audio capabilities.
"The security system was installed only in public areas of the hotel for the safety of our guests and employees," said Greg Hicks, president of Hi-Lad Inc. "Similar systems are commonly used throughout the country. This appeal to the West Virginia State Supreme Court is vitally important to businesses that are using similar systems."
During the trial, the front desk employee admitted that he had no knowledge whatsoever that anyone ever listened to a conversation of his over the security system.
While the employee claimed he suffered from emotional distress caused by the security system, he said during the trial that he had never sought counseling, never visited a doctor and never took any medication for his alleged condition.
"The basis for the appeal is simple," said Sean McGinley, attorney from the firm DiTrapano Barrett & DiPiero who is representing the Comfort Inn. "There was no evidence at trial that his communications were ever intercepted and a front desk clerk at a motel works in an open, public space, where he has no reasonable expectation of privacy while working. This is not a case about privacy, it is a case about the safety of the motel's guests and employees."
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