Inadequate security costs casino $1 million after employee raped

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000 | 11:47 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Casino Rouge must pay nearly $1 million to a cocktail waitress who was raped at knifepoint two years ago in the casino's parking lot, a judge has ruled.

The woman was attacked as she was getting into her car to leave work about 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 9, 1998. No one has been charged in the crime.

The rape happened in the employee parking lot.

In a written judgment issued Wednesday, state District Judge Kay Bates said the casino's security was so inadequate that the attacker was able to calmly walk to his car and drive away after raping the woman.

A guard tower overlooks the parking lot and security guards are supposed to patrol the area.

But on the night of the rape, the judge said, the tower was not manned and there were no patrols because the casino was short on staff. Employees apparently were not told that normal security was not in effect, the judgment said.

The casino had a duty to protect against criminal misconduct, Bates said, and on the night of the rape the casino breached that duty.

The victim has flashbacks, severe nightmares, concentration problems and suffers from depression, Bates said.