A former Wall Street banker is suing Starwood Hotels in federal court, claiming that an employee at a Starwood hotel in Finland gave her hotel room key to a stranger, who nearly raped her. With attorney Gloria Allred at her side, Alison Fournier told reporters that she had to move from New York, "I didn't feel safe alone in my apartment. I didn't feel safe walking the streets of New York. I have difficulty sleeping at night and terrible dreams and memories. I can't really be alone at night."
Last year, Fournier was staying at the Hotel Kamp in Helsinki for a business trip. According to the Daily News, an "American man — whose advances she had rebuffed earlier that evening — appeared in her room as she slept." Fournier's lawsuit claims that the man told the hotel clerk he was her husband and was locked out of the room.
The man then, says the lawsuit, got into bed with her and groped her. Fournier said, "He rolled toward me and put his hands on me. Although I was still sleepy, I bolted out of bed when he attacked me. I feel fortunate to have been able to get out of the room and escape from him... I realized it wasn't a mistake. He was looking for me and has somehow gotten in." Her lawsuit also claims that there's video showing the hotel clerk giving the man the key.
Fournier, who is seeking unspecified damages, says she cannot work and has moved to Florida to live with her parents. Fournier added, "I don’t want this to happen again to any woman traveling for her career." Starwood said, "We are taking this allegation seriously and are working with the hotel in question to understand the facts and any breach of security that may have contributed to this very unfortunate event."
