PHILADELPHIA – The Logan Hotel has denied that it racially discriminated against and harassed a private detective working in a protective capacity for media covering the 2020 Presidential Election in Philadelphia.
Ronald Felder first filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on June 19 versus Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (doing business as “Logan Hotel”).
“The plaintiff was a hotel guest at the Logan Hotel beginning on Nov. 3, 2020. The plaintiff, a licensed private detective, was working an executive protection detail for Al Jazeera Media Network’s reporters and cameramen covering the 2020 Presidential Election at the Convention Center in Philadelphia. During his stay at the Logan Hotel, plaintiff accompanied members of the press in the capacity of personal security, for which Mr. Felder is licensed and certified under the laws of Pennsylvania,” the suit said.
“On the morning of Nov. 7, 2020, the plaintiff was at the Convention Center when the cameraman realized that a camera battery had been left behind at the hotel. The cameraman requested that the plaintiff return to the hotel and retrieve the additional battery before the camera went dead, so that the cameraman did not lose a live feed to the network. The plaintiff returned to the hotel to obtain the battery for the cameraman. The plaintiff retrieved the battery from the hotel room and attempted to return to the Convention Center to give the battery to the cameraman.”
The suit specified that even though Felder had been a guest for five days at the Logan Hotel and because he already felt uncomfortable in such a nice upscale hotel due to his being Black, he had “made a point of introducing himself to staff and security so that they would know that he belonged at the hotel.”
“The plaintiff was walking through the lobby area towards the front doors carrying the camera battery when he was physically stopped and grabbed by a female hotel security guard who was White. The hotel security guard aggressively took the battery out of the plaintiff’s hands despite the fact that plaintiff repeatedly told the security guard that he was a guest in the hotel. Plaintiff also repeatedly asked the security guard to just ask the manager of the hotel to confirm what plaintiff was telling the security guard. The hotel security guard then loudly accused the plaintiff of stealing the camera battery and told the plaintiff in a loud aggressive voice and tone that he was a liar and that he was going to jail,” per the suit.
“There were several hotel guests and other hotel employees who were present and witnessed the interaction between the plaintiff and the hotel security guard. The plaintiff was the only black hotel guest in the lobby at the time. All of the other guests were white. Additionally, dozens of white hotel guests went to and from their rooms that day and not a single one of them was publicly accosted, accused of theft or loudly accused of being a liar in full view of the other guests and hotel employees. None of the other guests had personal property wrenched out of their hands, either.”
Though the plaintiff showed the hotel security guard his Private Detective’s license, explained that he was working a private security detail and had been a guest at the hotel for five days, the officer did not believe him.
Upon consulting the hotel manager, who recognized plaintiff as a guest and confirmed what the plaintiff had explained to the security guard, the manager apologized and said that the security guard mistook Felder for a Black man who had stolen some items from the hotel – the security guard was made to apologize to Felder, but did so “stubbornly and in an insincere manner.”
As a result, the plaintiff said he experienced embarrassment and stress for the remainder of his stay.
“Despite having to stay at the hotel for 23 additional days, the plaintiff barely left his room except when necessary to perform his required job duties. The plaintiff was afraid that another incident similar to the one he previously experienced could happen again and he increasingly felt like he did not belong at the Hotel because he is Black,” the suit stated.
“The incident caused the plaintiff emotional distress, extreme embarrassment and humiliation. He had difficulty concentrating on performing his job duties throughout the remainder of his stay at the Logan Hotel. Plaintiff was constantly worried that his job had been placed in jeopardy due to the delay in getting the battery to the camera man. Plaintiff was also further embarrassed and humiliated when his employer found out about the incident and complained to hotel management.”
UPDATE
Amended versions of the complaint were filed on Aug. 3 and Sept. 2, with the latter showing the listed defendants as Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (doing business as “The Logan Hotel”), Sage Hospitality Resources, LLC. and Sage Hospitality Resources, Limited Partnership.
In a Sept. 23 answer, the defendants issued a wholesale denial of the plaintiff’s claims.
“Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by the applicable statute of limitations. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of waiver. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of res judicata and/or collateral estoppel. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of accord and/or satisfaction. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of spoliation,” the answer’s defenses stated, in part.
“Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by the collateral source rule. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by plaintiff’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Plaintiff’s complaint is barred in whole or in part by statutory and/or common law. Plaintiff has failed to mitigate his damages. If plaintiff sustained damages, which is specifically denied, answering defendants aver said damages were due to plaintiff’s own actions and not due to any alleged conduct on the part of answering defendants. Plaintiff's claims are not brought in good faith and are frivolous in nature and answering defendants seek recovery of attorney’s fees and costs incurred in defense of these claims.”
The hotel defendants added that the plaintiff was not discriminated against on the basis of disability or of national origin or race.
For counts of civil rights violations pertaining to racial discrimination, the plaintiff is seeking a trial by jury, compensatory damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs and such further and different relief as is just and proper or that is necessary to make the plaintiff whole.
The plaintiff is represented by Derek A. Steenson of Steenson Law, in Philadelphia.
The defendant is represented by Frank A. LaSalvia of Dengler & Lipski, in Marlton, N.J.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case 2:22-cv-02405
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com