Harrah's Negligence Victim Attacked By Joliet Man Banned From Casino: Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL — Six years after a casino gambling patron in his seventies, visiting from Wisconsin, was murdered with a knife by a transient wandering the downtown Joliet Harrah's Casino Hotel, Harrah's faces a negligence lawsuit, this time from a 2024 violent crime victim.

Dana Bass has retained Joliet's Zayed Law Offices to file her Will County civil lawsuit against Harrah's and 30-year-old violent criminal Marquel Jimerson, of Joliet's Rooney Drive. According to her lawsuit filed Tuesday at the courthouse, Bass was a patron and guest of Harrah's on Feb. 6, 2024, and a legal invitee of Harrah's.

On the other hand, Jimerson was on Harrah's ban list or otherwise determined by Harrah's "that Harrah's was not to permit Mr. Jimerson to enter Harrah's premises," her lawsuit noted.

However, Jimerson approached the employees at the desk of the lobby and gave his identification to the Harrah's personnel and "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," the lawsuit reads. "Harrah's took no actual steps to prevent Mr. Jimerson from gaining access to the Harrah's premises."

The lawsuit pointed out that Harrah's had access to live camera footage "that showed Mr. Jimerson's movements within their premises, including entering an elevator and proceeding to plaintiff's floor in Harrah's premises. Harrah's took no actual steps to remove Mr. Jimerson from Harrah's premises once he had gained access," Zayed Law Offices argued.

According to the plaintiff's case, Jimerson forced himself into Bass' room at Harrah's and "proceeded to physically and verbally assault her."

Her Will County lawsuit accuses Harrah's of negligent security and ordinary negligence.

"As a direct and proximate result of the aforementioned acts or omissions, plaintiff suffered severe personal injury, has and will in the future require medical care and treatment and has and will in the future experience pain, suffering and disability as a result of the injuries suffered."

Dana Bass' lawsuit has asked that a Will County jury award her a judgment in excess of $50,000.

"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," her lawsuit noted.

As for Jimerson, last August a Will County jury has found him guilty of robbery, domestic battery and intimidation in connection with the Harrah's attack. He was found not guilty on only one of his six criminal charges. He may get sentenced at his next hearing in Courtroom 503 on June 27.

According to the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow, at around 11:25 p.m. Feb. 6, 2024, the 46-year-old woman reported to Joliet Police that Jimerson had beaten her earlier in the night while she was staying at Harrah’s Casino in Joliet.

Trial testimony established that as the woman left the hotel room, she saw Jimerson coming down the hotel hallway, threatening to kill her. Jimerson forced his way inside the room, pushing the woman to the ground and punching her about the head and body, according to testimony.

Jimerson asked where the woman kept her money and went through the victim’s purse, ultimately taking personal identification documents and cash.

An eyewitness told police that after repeatedly striking the victim, Jimerson threatened both of them, vowing he would kill them if they contacted the police. The eyewitness escaped the hotel room and contacted hotel security, who responded to the room with assistance of the Joliet Police Department.

Officers and hotel security entered the room and found the Jimerson hiding behind the door, according to testimony.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Harrah's Hotel Terror: Joliet Man Found Guilty After Jury Trial

Joliet Harrah's Casino Killer Robert Watson Gets New Trial On Appeal