Hillary Cranford, as Conservator to A.B., a Minor v. PeachState Hospitality, LLC

Case Background

On March 29, 2022, Plaintiff Hillary Cranford, as Conservator to a.b., a Minor filed a Hotel Sexual Assault lawsuit in the Georgia State, Henry County, State Court (Case number: 502022CA005480). Judge Chaundra Lewis presided over the case.

Cause

In November 2021, a horrific series of events unfolded at a Residence Inn by Marriott in McDonough, Georgia, managed by PeachState Hospitality LLC. The incident involved a 13-year-old girl who was staying at the hotel with her family during home renovations. What should have been a temporary, safe haven turned into a nightmare when Eareon Williams, a 26-year-old housekeeper employed by the hotel, repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped the minor on the hotel premises.

Williams, whom PeachState Hospitality had hired just two months prior to the incident, obtained a master key to the hotel rooms. Hotel management failed to notice this critical security breach, allowing Williams unfettered access to guest rooms. He exploited this access during his work shifts to carry out his heinous acts against the young victim.

The company had failed to conduct a background check or implement a thorough vetting process when hiring Williams. This oversight proved catastrophic. A subsequent investigation by a private investigator, hired by the plaintiff’s legal team, uncovered Williams’ extensive criminal history. His prior convictions included felony theft, pimping, and battery-family violence. Most alarmingly, his record also included a previous statutory rape charge.

Injuries

The 13-year-old minor suffered repeated sexual assaults and rape, resulting in long-term trauma. This emphasized the lasting psychological and emotional impact of such traumatic experiences.

Damages

The plaintiff sought compensatory damages for negligence, along with attorney fees, expenses, and punitive damages to hold PeachState Hospitality accountable for their egregious oversights.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Hillary Cranford, as Conservator to a.b., a Minor
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Naveen Ramachandrappa| Jeb Butler | Brittany Partridge
    • Experts for Plaintiff(s): Anique Whitmore
  • Defendant(s):PeachState Hospitality, LLC
    • Counsel for Defendants: Frederick N. Sager| Christopher T. Byrd | William M. Davis | Cecilia D. Orozco

Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel

“While I’m proud of the jury’s verdict, I’m most proud of their allocation of zero percent fault to our client, which solidified what we knew all along: Child sexual assault is not the child’s fault,”  Plaintiff’s Counsel Partridge said.

Claims

The plaintiff’s attorneys argued that PeachState Hospitality negligently hired, retained, and supervised Williams. They claimed the hotel operator failed to keep the premises safe from a foreseeable danger. The lawyers highlighted PeachState’s failure to conduct a background check, verify references, or investigate Williams’ employment history and criminal record.

Defense

PeachState Hospitality’s legal team argued that the company was not legally mandated to conduct background checks on employees. They cited COVID-19 restrictions as a mitigating factor, claiming that the Henry County Sheriff’s Department had suspended criminal background check services due to the pandemic. While acknowledging that they should have explored alternative means of obtaining a background check, the defense maintained that they had received no complaints about Williams during his brief employment. They expressed regret for hiring Williams and conceded that his actions were inexcusable.

Expert Testimony

Anique Whitmore explained the permanent effects of childhood sexual assault on victims.

Jury Verdict

A Henry County State Court jury awarded $29.4 million to the minor who was sexually assaulted at the Residence Inn by Marriott in a Hotel Sexual Assault Lawsuit. This sum included $21 million in compensatory damages for negligence and $8.4 million for litigation expenses.

Court Documents:

Available Upon Request