The tragic accident that resulted in the falling death of one woman and the serious injury of a second woman late last month, has sparked several lawsuits against the midtown Atlanta hotel involved.
[READ: Atlanta Model Dies, Friend Injured After Fall From W Hotel Window]
Two lawsuits were filed last week, one by Maurice Threatt (father of the deceased model) on behalf of his daughter’s estate; the second by Gloria Williams, mother of Ciara Williams, 25, the friend who was seriously injured in the fall.
A third lawsuit was filed this week on behalf of Threatt’s 14 year old daughter, signaling a bit of dissension within the deceased model’s family…
LaShawna’s father, Maurice Threatt, alleged that the window in room 2012 had been previously broken and improperly replaced. Mr. Threatt has also filed to become sole executor of his daughters estate.
But according to WSB-TV, The Cochran Firm was retained by Imonee’s grandmother, Sharon Traylor, LaShawna’s fianc?, LaRay Hamilton and a close family friend, Jacqueline Whiteside.
A statement from the firm, released Friday, said that Imonee is “the only person legally entitled to bring a wrongful death suit in the case.”
The suit lists W Hotel Management, W Hotels Real Estate, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Nobel Investment Group, Noble-AEW Colony Square, AEW Capital Management and AEW Partners as defendants.
Threatt’s fiance’ has also petitioned the court to be appointed legal guardian of Imonee. The law firm’s statement says the both the petition and lawsuit were filed at the 14 year old’s request.
On a lighter note, Ciara Williams, the sole survivor of the incident, remains in critical condition but is reportedly getting better every day.
Gloria Williams said her daughter remains in intensive care at Grady Hospital for Trauma in Atlanta.
“She’s been taking a couple steps forward, but then she takes a couple steps back,” Gloria Williams said. “It’s just going to be a day-by-day thing.”
Williams said she’s not sure how her daughter survived the fall.
“The Lord was with her. There’s no other way,” she said. “It’s a miracle because she’s still alive today. Each day she’s alive is even better. Everyday she survives is a blessing.”
Friends say her lungs are getting stronger each day and they are being patient, allowing the healing process to take time.
A “Ciara Williams Support” page has been created on Facebook, where updates on her condition are posted periodically.
Williams did not have health insurance and her family has been struggling with her medical costs. Donations can be made via the following:
Donate to The Ciara Williams Fund at Fifth Third Bank (acct# 9380801622) or checks/money orders can be sent to The Ciara Williams Fund c/o Gloria Williams 813 Meadow Lane Lexington, KY. 40505
Several questions remain unanswered surrounding the bizarre accident with many expressing doubt that the W Hotel window “just broke” after the girls were “play fighting”…
We’ll probably never know for sure what happened on that fateful evening, but what we DO know is that two lives will forever be changed. Let’s keep them all in our prayers…
Photos: Twitter/Facebook