He confronted a beach hotel worker shouting at kids and ended up in a choke hold: lawsuit
When a man confronted a Myrtle Beach resort employee yelling at children, he was placed in a choke-out and punched, according to a lawsuit.
James and Lynette Melo filed a lawsuit against Sands Ocean Club, Sands Ocean Resorts, other owners and the employees involved in the incident. The suit was filed last week in Horry County court.
The Melos were guests at Sands Ocean Club Resort in 2017. The hotel is outside of Myrtle Beach along the oceanfront.
James Melo saw George Dowe, an employee, “harassing, screaming and/or using explicit language” toward kids playing in the pool, according to the suit.
James Melo confronted Dowe about the behavior, and employee Randall Drayton put him in a choke-hold, the suit states. Dowe started to punch Melo in the face and head.
As a result of the attack, James Melo had injuries, emotional distress, anxiety and other issues, according to the filing.
The suit alleges the Sands Ocean Club should have known the employees were likely to cause injury to hotel guests based on their criminal records. The filing does not further specify the nature of their records. The couple calls the hotel negligent in its hiring and supervision practices.
The employees committed assault and battery on James Melo, the suit states. The couple asked for an unspecified amount of money.
Officials from the Sands Ocean Club did not respond in time for this report.
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 3:47 PM with the headline "He confronted a beach hotel worker shouting at kids and ended up in a choke hold: lawsuit."
