Augustine v. Marriott Hotel

OPINION OF THE COURT

Sherwood L. Bestry, J.

Plaintiff attended, for a fee, a dental seminar at the Marriott Hotel. The seminar sponsor rented a banquet room, furnished with seats, from the defendant.

*181At request of the sponsor, defendant furnished a movable coat rack, placing it outside the room, in the public lobby.

Plaintiff placed his coat on the rack before entering the seminar. At the noon recess, plaintiff exited the seminar room, but found that the rack had been moved a distance down the lobby and around a corner, near an exit.

Unfortunately, his cashmere coat was missing. He then commenced…