A West Virginia woman, identified as Jane Doe in a lawsuit, is seeking over $75,000 in damages from a cruise operator after claiming she was raped and impregnated by one of their bartenders, Hoobesh Kumar Dookhy. The lawsuit also accuses the operator of failing to protect passengers from harm.
The alleged incident occurred in May 2023 aboard the Margaritaville at Sea cruise. According to the complaint, Jane Doe and her cabinmate, identified as H.B., were drinking at a bar and charged drinks to their room, giving the bar staff access to their cabin number and key. Dookhy served them that night.
Later, while Jane Doe and H.B. were asleep in their cabin, Dookhy allegedly snuck in and assaulted Jane Doe, resulting in her pregnancy. This mirrors previous accusations H.B. made against Dookhy, leading to his criminal charge for abusive sexual contact in October. He is currently awaiting sentencing and not facing charges regarding Jane Doe's claims.
The lawsuit details the emotional and physical impact on Jane Doe, including the forced termination of the pregnancy, severe complications, and lasting trauma. She claims the cruise operator failed to uphold their duty to ensure passenger safety and is seeking compensation for damages.
In response, Margaritaville at Sea denied any prior knowledge of Jane Doe's allegations and emphasized their commitment to passenger safety. They confirmed Dookhy's immediate termination after the May incident involving H.B.
This case highlights the vulnerability of passengers and the responsibility of cruise lines to provide a secure environment. H.B. has also filed a separate lawsuit against the operator.
**If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please know you are not alone. The Crisis Text Line offers support and resources: text "STRENGTH" to 741-741.**
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