A woman from South Florida has filed a lawsuit against the vacation rental platform Airbnb, the property owner, and the cleaning company for which she worked, after alleging that she was raped by an intruder while performing cleaning duties at a property located in Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County.
The case, which has come to light this week following an emotional press conference, has revived the debate about safety in these types of accommodations.
The aggression: It occurred during their workday
According to the complaint, the sexual assault occurred on August 28 of last year, when the victim -identified as "Jane Doe" to protect her anonymity- went to clean a rental property through Airbnb in the area of 19th Street Southeast and South Federal Highway, after the guests had left the place.
It was at that moment when, according to the report, a man burst into the house and sexually assaulted her.
The attacker, who has not yet been identified, managed to flee the scene and remains at large despite the efforts of the Fort Lauderdale police.
"My life changed completely forever; it is difficult, painful... I wish this had never happened, but today I am here for so many people who have been silenced," the victim expressed during the press conference, as reported by local media.
The woman appeared visibly affected but was determined to make her story public in order to seek justice and prevent more women from going through the same experience.
It has not been revealed why the affected party waited until now to file the lawsuit.
Incident history ignored by Airbnb
The lawsuit filed by his legal team, headed by attorney Joshua Kushner, claims that this was not an isolated incident.
The court document mentions at least two previous violent incidents that occurred on the same property prior to the assault.
One of them involved a guest who reported the theft of his laptop during his stay at the accommodation.
The other incident occurred just a week before the sexual assault, when a man broke a window and entered the home, being found by the tenants themselves, according to the complaint.
“It is非常重要that Airbnb informs customers that there are safety issues with this house,” emphasized Kushner, who accused the platform of not taking any preventive measures or warnings, despite the history of events that demonstrated a risky environment.
Airbnb denies responsibility for the worker
The victim's legal team has sued Airbnb, the homeowner, and the contracted cleaning company, arguing that all are responsible for failing to ensure minimum safety conditions for those working in these properties.
However, Airbnb has responded by claiming that it has no direct responsibility because the victim was not a guest, but a contracted worker.
"Airbnb is claiming that it has no responsibility because our client is not a guest, but the workers are very important," Kushner criticized, denouncing the company's stance as a way to evade responsibilities towards those who make its business model possible.
A call for reforms in the vacation rental industry
During the press conference, the victim emphasized that her motivation to speak publicly goes beyond her personal case: she seeks to promote reforms that protect cleaning workers exposed to unsafe conditions in poorly supervised properties.
"I wish I weren't here. I wish this had never happened, but I am here, and today I am here to speak not just for myself, but also for others who have been hurt and silenced," she said.
The lawsuit demands that Airbnb implement stricter safety requirements for the homes listed on the platform, including background checks, disclosure of previous incidents, and restricted access measures to prevent intruders.
"I live with this fear, this violation, every day, but I refuse to allow what happened to me to be ignored," she stated, emotionally, at the end of her speech.
The investigation is still ongoing
The Fort Lauderdale police are in charge of the investigation and have reiterated their call to the public to cooperate by providing any information that could lead to the apprehension of the assailant.
Those who can provide relevant information may contact the Broward County Crime Stoppers hotline by calling (954) 493-8477. Authorities ensure confidentiality in reports.
Airbnb in the eye of the hurricane in Florida
This week, it was reported that the increasing presence of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods of Miami has sparked a wave of outrage among its residents, who are reporting significant disruptions to the harmony and safety of their communities.
Neighborhoods like Brickell, Shenandoah, and Los Roads have seen their tranquility threatened by the constant comings and goings of temporary tenants.
According to Telemundo 51, residents claim that platforms like Airbnb are turning private homes into "small hotels" without adequate control or supervision. This has led to noisy parties, suspicious behaviors, and a widespread sense of insecurity.
In response to this issue, neighborhood associations have begun to organize and call for stricter penalties. Residents emphasize the urgency of local reforms that more firmly regulate short-term rentals and restore peace to communities that have been characterized by their tranquil life for years.
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