Jason Baer discusses a lawsuit against Harrah’s Casino for its mistreatment of a rape victim as she was begging for help moments after being brutally beaten and raped.
Tourist who claims rape, kidnapping near Harrah's accuses company of denying her help afteThe district attorney said DNA evidence linked Kenneth Barber to the kidnapping and raper attack
NEW ORLEANS —
An Indiana woman who claims she was raped near Harrah's casino has filed a lawsuit against the company.
Patricia Wade and her attorney allege that after she was attacked, she went into the casino begging for help but was told she needed to leave.
Wade said she suffered severe physiological harm and emotional distress.
"I don't want this to ever happen to anybody," Wade said.
Wade said the terrifying ordeal happened after she got separated from her cousin while she was in town celebrating her birthday.
According to the suit that was filed in civil district court, Wade alleges that back in October of 2018, her attacker told her he had a gun.
Wade said she was kidnapped, robbed and raped near the casino.
Wade said she was eventually able to get away and went into the casino.
"I ran to Harrahs. I begged them to help me. They threw me out. I feel like they threw me out like I was a piece of trash. I just don't think it's right," Wade said. "My clothes were ripped. My breasts were exposed. When I went into Harrah's, she said I couldn't come in looking like that, and I said no. I begged her to help me. I begged her to call 911. She refused."
Wade alleges Harrah's employees removed her from the casino and a good Samaritan on a bench outside called police.
"Forcing her to leave the property without knowing where her attacker was, that is why we filed the lawsuit," Jason Baer, Wade's attorney, said.
WDSU reached out to Harrah's for comment. A spokesperson told WDSU our request was sent to their legal team and they would be in touch if they'd like to comment.
The district attorney said DNA evidence linked Kenneth Barber to the kidnapping and rape. Records show he was arrested and charged. His trial is set for October.
TRANSCRIPT:
I DON’T WANT THIS TO EVER HAPPEN TO ANYBODY. REPORTER: PATRICIA WADE SAYS THE TERRIFYING ORDEAL HAPPENED AFTER SHE GOT SEPARATED FROM HER COUSIN WHILE SHE WAS IN TOWN CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY ACCORDING TO THE SUIT THAT W FILED IN CIVIL DISTRICT COURT, WADE ALLEGES THAT BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2018 HER ATTACKER TOLD HER HE HAD A GUN. WADE SAYS SHE WAS KIDNAPPED, ROBBED AND VIOLENTLY RAPED NEAR THE CASINO. WADE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET AWAY. SHE SAYS THAT’S WHEN SHE WENT INTO HARRAH’ >> I RAN TO HARRAHS I BEGGED THEM TO HELP ME. THEY THREW ME OUT. I FEEL LIKE THEY THREW ME OU LIKE I WAS A PIECE OF TRASH I JUST DON’T THINK IT’S RIGHT. REPORTER: WADE ALLEGES HARRAH’S CASINO. A GOOD SAMARITAN ON A BENCH OUTSIDE CALLED POLICE. >> FORCING HER TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY WITHOUT KNOWING HER -- WHERE HER ATTACKER WAS IS WHY WE FILED THE LAWSUIT. REPORTER: JASON BAER IS WADE’S ATTORNEY. >> THE REASON WE FILED THIS LAWSUIT ME WADE WAS VIOLENTLY RAPED, BEATEN, CLOTHING TORN, AND SHE GETS TO HARRAHS CASINO AND ALSO SHE WANTS IS HELP. REPORTER: AS FOR WADE, SHE SAYS SHE CAN’T STOMACH THE IDEA OF RETURNING TO NEW ORLEANS. >> IT WAS MY FIRST TIME. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO EVER GO BACK TO NEW ORLEANS.