Douglas Margreiter vs Hotel

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1 Douglas Margreiter was severely injured in New Orleans on the night of April 6, 1976. He sued the Monteleone Hotel, saying that he was taken from his room there by two men who had a key to that room, the use of an elevator and unimpeded access and exit into an alley-permitted by the Hotel's lack of care to protect its guests. The Hotel contended that Margreiter was on an intoxicated venture and met his fate outside the Hotel. The jury found in favor of Margreiter. The judgment was reduced from $750,000 to $400,000 by remittitur. We affirm. 2 Margreiter was chief of the pharmacy section of the Colorado Department of Social Services and was in New Orleans to attend the annual meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association. On Tuesday evening, April 6, he had dinner at the Royal Sonesta Hotel with two associates from Colorado who were also attending the association meeting, and who had adjacent rooms at the Monteleone Hotel. Margreiter returned to his room between 10:30 and 11:00 o'clock. His friend Peebles returned to his adjoining room at the same time. His friend Bogan was to come by Margreiter's room later to discuss what meetings of the association each would attend on the following day. Skipping what the parties dispute, we know that an unconscious Margreiter was found about three hours later in a parking lot over three blocks from the Monteleone. The police who were summoned recall only that they regarded him as highly intoxicated, but they did get him to Charity Hospital. The next morning his friends learned of his predicament and had him removed to Hotel Dieu. There is no dispute but that Margreiter had been severely beaten, or that he endured great suffering and retains some effects of his injuries. 3 Margreiter testified that when he entered his room, he turned on the television and began to look at the program of association meetings for the

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