Russian sues hotel, attacker

A Russian woman who fell prey to physical attacks while billeted at the Pacific Islands Club early this year has levied complaints against the hotel resort for the distress she suffered under the establishment’s premises.

Natalia Fedorova through counsel Pete Atalig is seeking to recover general and punitive damages in the amount of $4 million collectively for the traumatic ordeal she endured during her stay at PIC, according to court documents.

The plaintiff is also intent on collecting judgment against her alleged attacker David Tanaka Diaz in an amount to be determined at trial. Ms. Fedorova has demanded for a jury trial to decide on the fate of the case.

In a complaint filed before the Superior Court yesterday, the foreigner cited that last January 26, 2001, she had found Mr. Diaz trespassing in her hotel room at PIC. But when she yelled for help, the suspect immediately ran out of the room.

Ms. Fedorova and her companion, Pavel Soloviov reported the incident to the front desk clerk of the hotel.

The plaintiffs alleged that the PIC security and management did nothing to follow up on the incident.

On February 2, 2001, Ms. Fedorova again found the suspect inside her quarters, without the room occupant’s consent.

Court records state that Mr. Diaz was inside the closet drinking a can of beer.

Finding herself alone with the suspect, Ms. Fedorova claims she was viciously attacked by Mr. Diaz, allegedly striking her in the face and kicking her body.

The victim reportedly tried to fight back but the suspect swiftly fled the room.

When Mr. Soloviov heard his girlfriend’s cry for help rushed to subdue Mr. Diaz, according to reports.

According to the plaintiff, although there were clubmates and other employees of PIC at the scene of the incident, they did nothing to assist her.

She added there were no security guards present in the vicinity at the time of the incident and that they did not arrive until approximately estimated 20 minutes later.

Ms. Fedorova reportedly sustained bleeding on the face as a result of the attack and was taken to the Commonwealth Health Center for emergency treatment.

PIC offered to the plaintiff public lodging facilities to compensate for her inconvenience.

But the victim contended that it is PIC’s duty to keep its premises a reasonably safe environment to prevent foreseeable assaults and to intervene when guests were assaulted and to render immediate aide and summon medical assistance for injured guests.

The plaintiff submitted the defendant failed to provide security, and faltered in its duty to intervene when she was being attacked.

The establishment allegedly also failed to render immediate aid and summon help when the plaintiff was injured.

It is the conclusion of the plaintiff that due to PIC’s alleged negligence, the suspect, Mr. Diaz, was permitted to assault Ms. Fedorova.

According to the court complaint, by reason of the PIC’s intentional wrongful acts and callous disregard for the plaintiff’s safety, punitive and other damages should be assessed against the defendants.