Mathur claims that on April 15, 2013, during a layover in Chicago, a large African-American woman came to his door at about 10:45 p.m., pushed her way into his room, and robbed him of $500. Over the next six minutes, his pleas for help, he says, were met with indifference from hotel staff, including security personnel, and Mathur suspects an employee of the hotel was an accomplice. The woman, who got away and was never identified, allegedly told a housekeeper that she was taking the money to cover her fee as a prostitute.
According to a court document, there is dispute over whether Mathur invited the woman to his room on the night of the incident and was actually robbed. And even if he was robbed, the court will have to decide if the hotel is liable. The case started as a personal injury lawsuit in Circuit Court but on October 8, 2013, the defendants, Hospitality Properties Trust and Wyndham Hotel Management, Inc., got the case moved to U.S. District Court. They argued it was a federal case due to Mathur being a citizen of India and suing for more than $75,000. Mathur’s attorney, Sanjay Shivpuri, filed a motion to remand the case back to Circuit Court. He said the defendants moved the case too late, well past a 30-day deadline from when they were served on August 6.
According to a status report filed on Wednesday, both parties anticipate a minimal exchange of information – about six depositions and three subpoenas – prior to a jury trial. They estimate discovery will finish by October 24, 2014. Previous stories… |
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