Resort manager faces assault allegations

Coral Ocean Resort manager Calvin Park is facing assault allegations following a civil complaint filed against him in Superior Court that accuses him of pushing a person to the ground.

Liana S. Hofschneider filed a civil complaint against Coral Ocean Resort and its manager, Park, last week, alleging assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.

Hofschneider, represented by Anthony Aguon, said the incident actually happened two years ago, and that Park pushed her to the ground twice following a dispute about excavating a historical site.

Hofschneider is asking the court to grant her damages, attorney’s fees, and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

According to her complaint, Hofschneider said she and her husband, Richard Hofschneider, had visited Coral Ocean Beach behind Coral Ocean Resort last Dec. 4, 2021.

While there, the Hofschneiders noticed a heavy equipment vehicle with an excavator loaded in the back that was parked along the coastline. Later, Liana Hofschneider said, the workers unloaded the excavator and appeared to begin excavating the ground.

Liana Hofschneider said they were concerned about earthmoving activities on a historic site and that the erosion would run off into the ocean from the earthmoving activities.

The lawsuit said that Richard Hofschneider approached the excavation site first to express his concern and verify whether the excavation was properly permitted.

The workers stopped digging the ground and responded that Coral Ocean Resort had the permits and that they would call the office to confirm. Richard Hofschneider thanked them and returned to his wife.

However, soon after, the Hofschneiders said, the equipment turned back on again and the workers resumed excavating.

The second time around, Liana Hofschneider herself went to the excavation site, expressed her concerns to the workers, and renewed the request to verify permitting for their earthmoving activities to which they stated that their manager had the permits at the Coral Ocean Resort office and that they would get a copy for her.

Hofschneider said that, as she headed back to her husband, two employees wearing COR uniforms sped toward her in a golf cart, one of them being Park.

The complaint said Park identified himself as the person in charge of the area and the excavation and “aggressively harassed” Hofschneider by calling her names, dismissing her concerns, and threatening to call the police on her for inquiring about the excavation permits.

Park then called the police to report Hofschneider who also called the police to report the incident with Park.

When the police arrived, Hofschneider claimed Park cut them off before arriving to the pavilion she was at, spoke to the police, and then left without approaching the Hofschneiders.

After that, Liana Hofschneider said, the heavy equipment started back up again and as she was making her way to the operators again, she was stopped by Park who allegedly blocked her way and pushed her, causing her to lose her balance.

Hofschneider said Park pushed her a second time, which exacerbated a prior knee injury.

Justice