In the last 18 months, at least 11 sexual assault crimes following a similar pattern have occurred in and around the Georgetown University campus. The sexual assault incidents generally involve an assailant entering through a female student’s unlocked window or door while she is asleep, getting into her bed, and groping her until she wakes up, screams, and the attacker runs off.
However, although the sexual assaults are following this pattern, the victims’ assailants do not appear to be the same person. White male, Middle Eastern male, and Hispanic male, short, tall, choppy, thin, and muscular build are among the descriptions that the women have given. The assailants also appear to belong to different age ranges.
Just last week, the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic school year, one student was sexually assaulted in her Georgetwon dorm room in Village A when her assailant entered her residence at around 4:30am last Tuesday.
Students are calling the assailant “the Georgetown Cuddler” and investigators are worried that not everyone is taking the sexual assault crimes seriously. While to date, no one has been seriously injured, police are worried that it could just be a matter of time.
Inadequate Security
Sexual assault crimes that occur on another party’s premise can be grounds for a premises liability lawsuit if the premise owner, manager, or supervisor could have done more to prevent the assault incident from happening. For example, if there has been a history of crimes occurring on or around the premise or property, then the premise owner should warn residents, patrons, or visitors and install the proper safety precautions to prevent further incidents from happening. Adequate security measures might include:
• Proper lighting
• Video cameras
• Alarm systems
• Secured entries and exits
• Security personnel
• Safety policies and procedures
If you have been a victim of a violent crime on another party’s premise you should speak with an experienced Washington DC injury law firm today.
ex Assaults Around Georgetown Campus Stymie Police, Washington Post, September 4, 2009
“Georgetown Cuddler” May Be Back, NBC Washington, September 1, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability, Justia