I have been wondering how people that I do not know have taken it upon themselves to take such very good care of, advocate for and treat me with such respect … I am so very grateful to you all and I will remember your kindness until the day I die. So, I want to take this opportunity to thank you Ron and the rest of the team… Just to be clear, I cannot talk to you because I have not been able to stop crying every time I remember how hard you guys advocated for me, told … my story, yet made me feel safe. Ron, thank you and please let everyone on my team know how I sincerely feel.
- Recent Client, Case Settled
February 2019
Potential clients often ask “what will I receive if I bring a claim as a survivor of abuse?” The answer to this question is not easily determined nor should it be. All facts and circumstances about a survivor’s particular situation are important in assessing what can be expected in the way of monetary damages. Of course, in discussing any estimate of financial compensation, the context must always be recognized, i.e. is the discussion about a potential jury verdict after a contentious trial or a settlement arrived at through negotiation or mediation? Verdicts can be in the millions of dollars and settlements can range upward from hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In 2017, the Santa Fe–based travel–advice site, Asher & Lyric, researched more than 1,000 incidents regarding Airbnb found on 3rd–party review sites, major news outlets, and from well–known travel bloggers. They found everything from murders, rapes, and kidnappings associated with short–term rentals to hosts using secret cameras to spy on their guests. The same year, Airbnb employees proposed requiring that everyone who signs up for the platform, both hosts and guests, provide a government identification such as a driver’s license. Airbnb executives rejected this proposal stating that, based on studies, some users would stop signing up if asked to produce ID. Due to lawsuits and continuing complaints, the company has begun changing their policies.
Financial compensation generally involves three components:
We are prepared to discuss these issues with you but again, there are many considerations in assessing the potential amount of financial compensation that may be obtained in assault or abuse cases.
Airbnb was named in a first–of–its kind lawsuit in 2017 when a renter accused a host of sexually harassing and ultimately assaulting her. The woman accused Airbnb of negligence for not properly screening the host who was previously accused but not convicted of domestic violence.
In that same year an Airbnb guest in Minnesota was charged with second–degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim under 13 when he was found naked in bed with a 7–year–old girl who lived in the home he was staying in. The guest had an extensive criminal record that was not disclosed to his Airbnb hosts.
Between 2017 and 2020 Opera Tower, a 665–condominium unit in Miami, had about 200 units listed on Airbnb. Between June 2017 and June 2020 there were numerous crimes committed on the property, including alleged incidents of robbery, assault, and rape.
In 2017, a gunman entered an out–of–control house party with over 100 guests taking place at an Airbnb rental in California, opened fire, and killed five people.
In 2017, a couple staying at an Airbnb in Florida found hidden cameras in their rental. The couple had already spent a full night before the camera in the bedroom smoke detector was discovered. Another camera was found in the living room. The SD memory cards revealed footage of them as well as other suspected victims. The host was arrested and charged with one count of video voyeurism.
Attorney Ron Meneo manages and leads The Meneo Law Group. Your case will be personally reviewed and evaluated by him. Perhaps as strong and enduring as any other effects on a survivor of sexual assault are the feelings of shame and guilt that can be overwhelming and debilitating, compounded by a resulting mistrust of others and avoidance of any acknowledgment or conversation concerning the assault. We recognize how difficult and oftentimes frightening acknowledging sexual assault and describing it can be. Be assured that any conversation about your situation with our firm is confidential. When we respond to an inquiry, we do so with the sensitivity, respect, and discretion necessary to provide meaningful feedback. If you prefer to speak with us directly regarding your incident, please call The Meneo Law Group at 1-866-371-8506 1-866-371-8506 or send us a confidential email at confidentialinquiry@meneolawgroup.com.
Cases may be filed anonymously to protect the victim's identity.
My wife and I cannot thank you enough for your help in this case. We want to make note of your professionalism and empathy in this matter. The actual velocity here is astonishing compared to most legal endeavors. - W.M.
Asserting a Sexual Abuse claim may be subject to various deadlines — formally known as “statutes of limitations” — which limit the time within which a claim can be brought. These limits vary from state–to–state and, for each state, differ depending upon the type of claim. Generally speaking, statutes of limitations are divided into two distinct groups: those that apply to criminal acts and those that apply to non–criminal or civil claims. Many states have adopted very liberal time limits for sexual assault cases. For example, in California, Assembly Bill 1619 was passed unanimously by the California State Assembly in September 2018 to extend the statute of limitations on civil actions for sexual assault from two years to 10 years. As Airbnb is headquartered in California, this extension is applicable to survivors of Airbnb assaults across the country regardless of state of residence and will allow all survivors to file a civil action against the responsible company.
Disclaimer: Submission of information to The Meneo Law Group does not establish an attorney-client relationship and should not be viewed or understood as doing so. An attorney-client relationship can only be established by the agreement of both the attorney and the client and must be reduced to a written retainer agreement that has been signed by both parties.