Bourbon Orleans Hotel guests claim they were beaten and robbed at gunpoint

NEW ORLEANS – A group of men staying at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel claim they were robbed and beaten at gunpoint in their hotel room.

Norris “Mickey” Dearmon, Shawn Rivers, John Roper II, Shawn White and David Bexlay filed suit against St. Ann Lodging LLC. D/B/A Bourbon Orleans Hotel and QBE North America Insurance Group in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Nov. 20, 2014.

On Nov. 21, 2013, the plaintiffs claim they checked into room 543 of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel located at 717 Orleans Street in New Orleans.

The suit says that around 4:30 a.m., two of the petitioners, Dearmon and Rivers, returned to the hotel with an “unknown female" whom they allegedly met earlier in the night. Upon their arrival the plaintiffs claim they encountered Bexlay, who, at first, was not allowed entry into their hotel room as he was not listed on the reservation.

The petitioners claim they then proceeded to their hotel room where they were met by two knocks at the door. The first knock was allegedly by a man who addressed himself as “hotel security” and simply asked if everything was okay, in which the plaintiffs responded in the affirmative. However, the plaintiffs contend the second knock was by a group of men claiming they were “the police” and then forced themselves into the room.

The intruders then proceeded to loot the plaintiffs’ contents including a gold and diamond bracelet, a watch, rings, a cellular phone, cash, a wallet, I-Phones, a Galaxy III cell phone, an Android phone and an Alabama State Identification Card. The petitioners also alleged they were brutally beaten and robbed at gunpoint. Dearmon further contends that one of assailants cocked his gun but didn’t fire as, “another of the attackers told him not to shoot because it would be too loud.”

The defendants are accused of failing to sustain a safe environment, provide competent security personnel and properly train security guards.

The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount in damages for eye injuries, eye surgery, pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of personal property, emotional turmoil and mental anguish.

The petitioners are represented by Jacques F. Bezou Jr., Esq., Jacques F. Bezou of The Bezou Law Firm and Rene Paul Frederick Esq. of Allen & Frederick LLC.

The case has been assigned to Div. L Chief Judge Kern A. Reese.

Case no. 2014-11164.