ST. LOUIS – Two St. Clair County law firms filed nearly identical suits a day apart in civil court, claiming damages for deviant massages at Four Seasons Hotel.
On May 17, John Kujawski of Kujawski Marcus in O’Fallon sued the hotel and Lumiere Place Casino on behalf of Melissa Morrison.
The complaint also sought damages from Tropicana Entertainment, owner of a spa at the hotel, and from massage therapist Kamren Holbert.
Kujawski had previously sued the same defendants on behalf of Samantha Bourne.
On May 18, Tom Keefe of Keefe, Keefe and Unsell in Swansea filed a complaint with the same counts in the same order, on behalf of Andria Ackerman.
Keefe currently represents Ackerman in a suit against General Motors, blaming a defective ignition switch for injuries she sustained in an accident.
In the massage actions, Kujawski and Keefe covered all bases by classifying the hotel, the casino, and the spa as Holbert’s employer.
Each complaint alleged that all defendants engaged in sexual conduct, and that all defendants committed battery.
The suits claim physical and psychological injuries, emotional distress and trauma, and privacy invasion. Plaintiffs say they incurred medical expenses, past and future, and lost wages.
The women seek punitive damages not to exceed $10 million.
Keefe did not fix the date of the offense, placing it in early 2016.
Kujawski fixed the date of the offense at Aug. 27.
Court records show an Aug. 28 arrest for Holbert.
He faces trial before Circuit Judge Michael Stelzer on June 19, on a felony charge of sodomy in the second degree.
The charge applies to deviate sexual intercourse without consent.
The offense carries a potential sentence up to seven years.
Sodomy in the first degree involves force and carries a possible life sentence.
Scott Rosenblum of Clayton represents Holbert in the felony proceedings.