November 15, 2013 – The new owners and managers of Hotel 71 are defending their removal of a lawsuit – from Cook County Circuit Court to U.S. District Court – that was filed by an Air India pilot who claims he was robbed at the hotel.

The hotel is now known as the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront.

The pilot, Pankul Mathur, is suing Hospitality Properties Trust and Wyndham Hotel Management, claiming that on April 15 during a layover in Chicago, a large African-American woman came to his door, pushed her way into his room, and robbed him of about $500. A $400,000 settlement offer was declined and Mathur sued on July 16.

Mathur (left) is also a general manager of operations for Air India.

On October 8, HPT and Wyndham got the case moved to district court, saying it was a federal case because Mathur is a citizen of India and is suing for more than $75,000. Mathur’s attorney, Sanjay Shivpuri, objected, saying the hotel moved the case well past a 30-day deadline from when they were served on August 6.

In their response filed on November 12, the hotel attorneys say the 30-day deadline should be from when they learned on September 26 that the amount in controversy was greater than $75,000.

Shivpuri has until November 19 to reply.

 Related story: Motion filed to return Hotel 71 lawsuit to county court