CplPunishment
October 7th, 2010, 11:31 AM
Frequent flyer Dayanara Fernandez considers hotels her "second home," which is why she says a housekeeper's wardrobe incident at the Hyatt Deerfield last summer so deeply disturbed her.
Fernandez, a Los Angeles resident, arrived in town for a June 6 wedding and checked into the hotel off Interstate 94 at Lake-Cook Road.
She said she returned to her room in the afternoon to find a housekeeping cart parked in front of the closed door and a sign hanging on the handle.
According to police reports and court documents, what happened next caused her to "suffer serious emotional distress."
Fernandez walked in to find a male housekeeper in her room with an unusual expression on his face, according to court documents. She noticed he was wearing a Hyatt uniform shirt. Then she noticed he was also wearing one of her skirts and a pair of her high heels.
Indicating that he liked the clothes, the man ran into the bathroom to change, according to police reports.
In a state of "semi-shock," Fernandez said she began gathering her luggage when she noticed the man also was wearing her underwear. He handed over various clothing items, asking her not to report him.
Fernandez said she then complained to hotel management, but managers didn't take her seriously until she told them to call the police, according to court documents.
A Deerfield police report confirms most of the statements Fernandez makes in her complaint, which she filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The employee, Oscar Garcia-Franco, 32, of 1165 Boxwood Drive, Mount Prospect, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He pleaded guilty July 15, was fined $187 and placed on 90 days supervision, according to Lake County Circuit Court records.
According to Fernandez's attorney, Hyatt "offered to pay for dry cleaning."
Instead, Fernandez is taking the Chicago-based company to court, seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and other claims.
"We would like reimbursement for the clothing and some acknowledgment of the fact that this is a situation that can cause some emotional distress, which they have completely refused to acknowledge," attorney Stephanie Sperber told Pioneer Press.
Hyatt's corporate press office did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment.
Sperber noted that Fernandez travels regularly for business and spends much of her time in hotels.
"Her sense of security has been compromised. ... Having somebody rifle through your things and put on your underwear is disturbing," Sperber said. "I think she expected better from a place like the Hyatt."
Fernandez is requesting a jury trial in Los Angeles.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/deerfield/news/2775186,deerfield-hyatt-100510-s1.article
http://i.cdn.turner.com/dr/teg/tsg/release/sites/default/files/assets/garciafrancomug.jpg
Fernandez, a Los Angeles resident, arrived in town for a June 6 wedding and checked into the hotel off Interstate 94 at Lake-Cook Road.
She said she returned to her room in the afternoon to find a housekeeping cart parked in front of the closed door and a sign hanging on the handle.
According to police reports and court documents, what happened next caused her to "suffer serious emotional distress."
Fernandez walked in to find a male housekeeper in her room with an unusual expression on his face, according to court documents. She noticed he was wearing a Hyatt uniform shirt. Then she noticed he was also wearing one of her skirts and a pair of her high heels.
Indicating that he liked the clothes, the man ran into the bathroom to change, according to police reports.
In a state of "semi-shock," Fernandez said she began gathering her luggage when she noticed the man also was wearing her underwear. He handed over various clothing items, asking her not to report him.
Fernandez said she then complained to hotel management, but managers didn't take her seriously until she told them to call the police, according to court documents.
A Deerfield police report confirms most of the statements Fernandez makes in her complaint, which she filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The employee, Oscar Garcia-Franco, 32, of 1165 Boxwood Drive, Mount Prospect, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He pleaded guilty July 15, was fined $187 and placed on 90 days supervision, according to Lake County Circuit Court records.
According to Fernandez's attorney, Hyatt "offered to pay for dry cleaning."
Instead, Fernandez is taking the Chicago-based company to court, seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and other claims.
"We would like reimbursement for the clothing and some acknowledgment of the fact that this is a situation that can cause some emotional distress, which they have completely refused to acknowledge," attorney Stephanie Sperber told Pioneer Press.
Hyatt's corporate press office did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment.
Sperber noted that Fernandez travels regularly for business and spends much of her time in hotels.
"Her sense of security has been compromised. ... Having somebody rifle through your things and put on your underwear is disturbing," Sperber said. "I think she expected better from a place like the Hyatt."
Fernandez is requesting a jury trial in Los Angeles.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/deerfield/news/2775186,deerfield-hyatt-100510-s1.article
http://i.cdn.turner.com/dr/teg/tsg/release/sites/default/files/assets/garciafrancomug.jpg