Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Sandals Royal Bahamian Dismissed Over Missed Deadline

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A Supreme Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a couple against the operators of Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa and Resort over an alleged sexual assault by a butler during their stay in The Bahamas.

Justice Darron Ellis ruled that Ashley Reid-Pascarella and her husband, Jeffery Pascarella, filed their claim against West Bay Management Limited outside the statutory three-year limitation period.

The couple alleged that Reid-Pascarella was indecently assaulted by a butler assigned to them during their stay at the resort on or about April 15th, 2016.

They were seeking damages for psychiatric injury, consequential financial losses, alleged breaches of duty by the resort, and the recovery of more than fourteen thousand dollars spent on their wedding package.

However, the lawsuit was not filed until October 14th, 2020 — more than four years after the alleged incident.

While Justice Ellis rejected the resort operator’s attempt to enforce a contractual provision requiring guests to file legal proceedings within one year, he ruled that the couple’s claims were barred under Section 9 of the Limitation Act 1995.

The couple had also filed a lawsuit in New York, but that case was dismissed in 2020 after a judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.