Porter Sexually Assaulted Woman In Her Chelsea High-Rise: Suit

CHELSEA, NY — A woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a porter at a luxury Chelsea high-rise is suing the landlord, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit.

Plaintiff Anna Roast, 26, says she was assaulted in luxury Hudson Yards skyscraper The Eugene on Oct. 17, 2017 and has filed a civil suit against Brookfield Asset Management, accusing one of the city's largest property owners of failing to protect her, court documents show.

"Defendants created and allowed a climate of physical abuse and failed to stop such activities," states the suit. "Failed to prevent improper behavior from continuing, failed to stop the employee from engaging in physical abuse upon plaintiff."

After a night out, Roast returned to her high-rise apartment and was notified that she had received a package while she was out. A porter delivered the parcel, an arrangement of flowers, and allegedly took advantage of Roast, who was intoxicated and had passed out, her attorney Jason Krakower told Patch.

Roast says she suffered "serious and permanent physical and psychological injury" from the incident, according to court documents. Some $25,000 in cash and gift cards was also stolen from her unit by the porter, Roast's lawyer said.

Krakower slammed the building's owners for not protecting his client.

"She was sexually assaulted in her own unit — this happened in a building that was supposed to be a high-end building," said Krakower.

"These are big name people that are supposed to go out of their way to protect their residents and I think what’s worse is they’ve been less than forthcoming."

Krakower claims Brookfield has refused to share the name of the porter who allegedly attacked Roast — though they told her criminal charges have been brought against him — or to hand over building surveillance of the porter entering and exiting Roast's apartment, which Krakower says NYPD investigators told him exists.

Roast seeks unspecified damages from Brookfield Asset Management — the company that owns the majority public shares of developer Brookfield Properties — and from the company through which Brookfield owns the tower.

Brookfield declined to comment on the lawsuit, but emphasized that tenant safety is its top priority.

"The safety and security of the residents of our properties is our number one priority," Andrew Brent, a spokesman with Brookfield Properties, told Patch.

The 62-story tower recently made headlines after a 22-year-old woman was found dead in the bathtub of an apartment in the ritzy building. Police believe the recent college graduate may have died while having sex after a night of partying and are exploring if her ex-boyfriend is to blame for her death.

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