Hotel charges woman for new suite after male worker allegedly breaks into room and leers at her naked in shower: $7m lawsuit claims

A WOMAN is suing a hotel for $7 million after she allegedly had a psychologically traumatizing experience with an employee.

A person known as CN is the plaintiff in the case, alleging that she experienced an egregious and unimaginable violation of privacy during her stay at the high-end hotel.

According to the legal complaint, while CN was showering without clothes on, an individual who seemed to be a staff member of the St. Regis Bal Harbour resort in Miami Beach entered her securely locked hotel room and observed her while she was in the shower.

In the court documents, CN described how a man entered the bathroom while she was showering, forcibly opened the shower door, and gazed at her exposed body while her back was turned to the door.

The woman turned around and saw the man exit the bathroom – but he didn’t exit the suite, she claims in the lawsuit.

He continued on into the guest room to continue his “voyeuristic invasion,” she said.

The plaintiff stated she was “overcome with panic and fear,” which led her to run from the bathroom completely naked into the room. 

She said she began screaming louder and more forcefully at the person to leave. 

As he left, he grazed past her naked body, according to the lawsuit. 

CN said she deadbolted her door and waited for her boyfriend, who had left earlier that morning to go swimming, to come back to the room.

Once he returned, she said they alerted the resort’s security guards about what happened.

CN said she was then contacted by the Resort’s Loss Prevention Manager, Andres Garcia.

The woman alleged she told Garcia she wanted the police called immediately and that she would contact law enforcement herself.

However, Garcia allegedly replied, “We have a great relationship with the Bal Harbour Police Department.

“Don’t worry … We’ll contact them right away.”  

CN said Garcia promised to personally investigate the incident and would have a report to her by 4 pm that day.

After talking to the manager, CN and her boyfriend were moved to a larger suite for their troubles – but she claims the resort charged her for the upgrade.

Later that day, Garcia told the guest he needed more time to investigate, the lawsuit states.

The guest volunteered to identify the employee if she were given photos to look at, but she claimed the manager told her that was not an option.

The lawsuit claims Garcia said, “I cannot show you photographs of the employees without a subpoena.”

CN didn’t hear from law enforcement until the following day, December 12, 2023, when Officer Lydia Armstrong arrived at her hotel room to discuss the incident.

Armstrong told the victim she was informed CN didn’t want the police involved in the incident, the lawsuit stated. 

“That’s not true…You told me you had such a great relationship with the police department that you would contact them,” CN allegedly said to Garcia, who was also at the meeting. 

CN claims the resort “had no intention of contacting law enforcement” and instead obstructed the investigation.

She claims to have suffered “severe and lasting psychological trauma” and is seeking $7 million in damages from the resort.

Justin Shapiro, the plaintiff’s lawyer, told The U.S. Sun they’re hoping to make a “cultural change” with this case.

“The allegations are that the culture at this hotel was a culture of self-preservation and the culture needs to change if they are to instill trust in their guests that pay handsomely for this quote luxurious and high-end resort,” Shapiro said.

“These types of lawsuits do tend to inspire that kind of cultural change, and that’s what we’re seeking to do here.”

Marriott and the St. Regis Bal Harbor resort did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.