Jerri Dudley fatally shot at Sunrise Inn motel in Albany

Does the owner of Sunrise Inn hotel in Albany, GA face legal liability after a fatal shooting left one dead at the troubled hotel?

Jerri Dudley, a 48 year old mother and resident of Albany, Georgia, was shot in the head inside a room at the Sunrise Inn in Albany. The Albany Police Department responded to the scene, but she did not survive her injuries.

Witnesses in the room identified Anthony Manriquez as the suspect. He is now wanted on murder and other charges. Investigators do not yet know the motive for the shooting, but they’re asking for any help in tracking down the suspect.

Georgia Negligent Security Law

In Georgia, hotel and motel owners, including those that offer weekly rentals, must make sure they have proper security in place if there have been criminal activities around their property. This might include asking customers for ID, keeping bad people away, having a fence around the property, using security cameras that are easily seen, having security guards on site, and making sure the area is well lit. The good news is research has shown that these measures can reduce violent crime in apartment communities.

A History of Negligence at the Sunrise Inn

In April of 2019, when the motel was still known as the Palace Inn, after a string of crimes on the property, a Judge ordered the motel closed, but city officials worked out a deal where the motel could remain open if it cleaned up the crime at their business.

People who have stayed at the Sunrise Inn motel have written online reviews that say there are problems with management and drugs on the property. One person wrote, "It's nasty and there's drugs everywhere. The people running it don't seem to know what they're doing."

Only Crime Victims or Their Family Can Demand Justice

In Georgia, hotel and motel owners have to make sure their property is safe from crimes that could easily happen. If they don't do anything about criminal activity, it can keep happening over and over again.

Even though the police can put criminals in jail and try to make things right, they can't make hotel or motel owners take steps to prevent crime or pay money to the families of victims who were hurt.

Only those who have survived a violent crime or the victim's family can sue property owners and management companies in court. A civil judgment can help with costs like medical bills and lost earnings and provide a starting point for healing, although it cannot fully make up for the suffering caused by violent crime.

It is worth noting that owners and management are unlikely to take action to prevent violent crimes on their property until after they have faced significant damages in court.

Together we can Make Georgia Safe, one community at a time.