American sues hotel for lost cash

CEBU - An American tourist has filed civil charges against a Cebu City Hotel where he reportedly lost $5,000 that he had placed in a safety deposit box.

Kendal Chow, a retired post office manager from California, USA, has filed civil charges for damages for the loss of the dollar cash bills with attorney’s fee against Golden Bee International Inc., as the owner of Apple Tree Suite where the complainant is renting a safety deposit box.

Chow, in his complaint, said that he is renting an apartment in Happy Valley in barangay Guadalupe. He also said that he is renting a safety deposit box of Apple Tree Suites where he deposited $6,000 and P20,000 cash at the pension house last July 5.

Chow said that only $1,000 was left when he checked his money inside the safety box marked number 21 on Aug. 15.

Chow sought the help of the police for further investigation on the matter, however, even as efforts were made by the authorities, the identity of the culprit cannot be traced.

Because of that, Chow filed a civil suit against the hotel and asked them to pay P225,000 in actual damages equivalent to the amount that was lost for its failure to exercise the required diligence in maintaining the safety of the cash bills contained in the safety deposit box.

Chow also asked the hotel to pay him P100,000 in moral damages and P50,000 in exemplary damages for the loss of the money that caused him “sleepless nights, mental stress and anxiety”.

He also asked the hotel to pay the attorneys fee of P20,000 plus the contingent fee of 25 percent of the total amount to be recovered. – Jasmin R. Uy/BRP (THE FREEMAN)