A Michigan couple's luxurious getaway to Cancun rapidly descended into a harrowing ordeal, resulting in a 12-day imprisonment in a Mexican jail and culminating in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the prestigious Palace Resorts chain.
What began as a celebratory trip for Troy and Melissa Everett quickly turned sinister when resort staff allegedly fabricated a damaging criminal complaint against them. The couple claims they were targeted after disputing a bill, leading to their abrupt arrest by Mexican authorities.
A Holiday Paradise Turns into a Prison Cell
The Everetts' nightmare commenced at the opulent Le Blanc Spa Resort, a five-star establishment renowned for its white-sand beaches and premium service. Following a minor billing disagreement, the couple alleges that resort management retaliated in an extreme and terrifying fashion.
"We were literally hunted down," Troy Everett recounted. Security personnel, they claim, pursued them through the resort grounds before involving local police, who transported the bewildered Americans to a nearby station.
Twelve Days of Fear and Injustice
Stripped of their passports and basic rights, the Everetts were thrust into a frightening and unfamiliar legal system. They faced serious but entirely fabricated charges of property damage and aggression, accusations they vehemently deny.
Their confinement in a Cancun jail for nearly two weeks was described as a period of intense fear and uncertainty, cut off from consistent consular assistance and their family back in the United States.
Fighting Back: The Legal Battle for Justice
Now safely back on US soil, the couple is seeking justice through the American court system. They have filed a staggering $1.2 million lawsuit against Palace Resorts, alleging a catastrophic failure of duty of care, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Their legal team asserts the resort group acted with "malicious intent" and demonstrates a reckless disregard for the safety and wellbeing of its guests, prioritising bill collection over human rights.
A Stark Warning for Travellers
This distressing case sends a chilling warning to the millions of tourists who visit Mexican resorts annually. It highlights the potential vulnerabilities travellers can face abroad, particularly when disputes with powerful local corporations arise.
The lawsuit not only seeks compensation for the couple's immense suffering but also aims to enforce stricter accountability and safety protocols for international hospitality giants operating vacation destinations.
