Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Georgia

I would like to sue a hotel for breach of security, defamation of character, giving out personal information, neglect, and unauthorized access (giving out a hotel key without permission)

A quick summary of my incident, I was checked into a hotel, an gentle friend later came to hangout. His significant other came to the hotel front desk asking questions the hotel clerk gave the woman my personal information off my license as well as the information to my room and who had been there with me. The hotel allowed the woman to come to the room and knock on the door. The gentleman left and later return unable to enter the room he asked the same hotel clerk for a key and without permission she gave him a key. Upon checking out the hotel because I was no longer comfortable the couple was at the front desk and the same clerk once again verified who I was to the woman. The police were called and the clerk stated that I was a local prostitute and the officers wanted to arrest me for prostitution, the gentleman had to verify that I was not a prostitute nor was I from the area and I was only in town to visit him. The next day I made a complaint to the manager who called in the employee and review the tapes offered a big apology and a refund. I feel that that is very unacceptable because at this point I don't know what the woman intends to do with my personal information, nor did we know what her intentions were when she was allowed access to the hotel. A personal should not be able to lie saying they are a friend to gain access and the hotel clerk believe it.

Can someone please tell me my options


Asked on 6/28/15, 8:44 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

If there is no more to the story (and there usually is from some point of view), you have a valid complaint to the management, owner, and franchise if there is one. As far as a lawsuit, in theory you have a defamation claim for being called a prostitute. Those claims are usually very difficult, and you can assume that the employee will get the chance to give his side of the story as well as the sequence of events. The employee may have a reasonable suspicion based on the activity with the other couple (which sounds strange even from your version) or perhaps mistaking you for someone else. Calling the police based on a reasonable suspicion is not generally a viable lawsuit and not malice. If you want to drag yourself and your friends through such a lawsuit, see a reputable lawyer (ie, not one who just takes your case to send a demand and get a check) to go over everything. A suit for giving out info, a key, etc., while it may have been very stupid, is not going to go far in court.

Read more
Answered on 6/28/15, 9:03 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Civil Rights Law questions and answers in Georgia