Harrah’s Joliet Sued After Brutal Hotel Room Attack

• Banned criminal entered Harrah’s despite prior exclusion orders
• Victim claims hotel ignored basic guest safety protocols

A Joliet, Ill., woman is suing the city’s Harrah’s Casino and Hotel after she was violently assaulted and robbed in a guestroom in February 2024 by a known criminal who had been banned from the property.

Dana Bass, 46, claims the casino’s owner, Caesars Entertainment, failed to enforce its own security protocols and allowed a known violent offender onto its premises.

Attacked in Her Room

According to court records and testimony from a recent criminal trial, Bass was attacked in her room by Marquel Jimerson, 30, a Joliet resident with a known criminal history.

Jimerson forced his way into Bass’s hotel room, where he physically assaulted her, demanded money, and stole personal items.

A witness present during the attack reported that Jimerson said the victim would be killed if she went to the police. That witness managed to flee and alerted hotel security, who, along with Joliet Police, apprehended Jimerson hiding inside the room.

The lawsuit alleges that Jimerson, who was previously barred from Harrah’s, gained entry after presenting identification at the front desk. Despite his status on Harrah’s exclusion list, staff permitted him to enter the premises without intervention or supervision.

Harrah’s personnel did not deny Mr. Jimerson from entering their premises and instead permitted Mr. Jimerson to enter Harrah’s premises and proceed without supervision or security,” claims the lawsuit. “Harrah’s took no actual steps to prevent Mr. Jimerson from gaining access to the Harrah’s premises.”

Jimerson was convicted in August 2024 on multiple charges, including robbery, domestic battery, and intimidation. He was acquitted on only one of six charges and is scheduled for sentencing on June 27.

Bass’s lawsuit argues that Harrah’s failed in its duty to provide a secure environment, particularly for registered guests.

“Harrah’s, by and through its agents, servants and employees, owed a duty of care to plaintiff to hire competent and qualified security personnel that would protect guests, including but not limited to the plaintiff,” it states.

Burgarino Murder

This is not the first time Harrah’s Joliet has faced a lawsuit alleging it neglected its duty of care towards a customer.

In March 2019, transient Robert Watson entered the casino and stabbed to death 76-year-old Emanuel “Sam” Burgarino, a guest at the hotel. The victim, chosen at random, was knifed 26 times and robbed in the shocking attack.

Burgarino’s fiancée, Denise Dixon, sued the casino, alleging that Harrah’s staff had a duty of care to protect their guests from Watson, who was repeatedly caught on security cameras loitering around the venue.

Watson was ultimately sentenced to 100 years in prison for the killing. Caesars Entertainment settled with Dixon out of court for an undisclosed sum.