Paul and Christy Akeo, who spent 32 days in a Mexican maximun security prison are now suing hotel chain Palace Resorts and its CEO, José Chapur Dájer, for defamation, malicious prosecution and emotional stress.
The American couple had purchased a time share in Cancun with Palace Resorts in 2016, and had been gaining benefits by referring friends until 2021, when the company accused the Akeos of breaching contract and refused to accomodate the people they sent to their hotel.
The Akeo stopped payment for their timeshare, and successfully argued with their credit card company that Palace Resorts did not provide the services they were charging for, which resulted in the return of close to 116 thousand dollars.
In addition to this, this couple opened a Facebook group, which grew to 8 thousand members, to discuss possible abuses by Palace Resorts and ways in which time share members chan defend themselves.
José Chapur’s company filed a criminal complaint against Paul and Christy Akeo for fraud, which resulted in Quintana Roo State’s Prosecution (Fiscalía General del Estado) obtaining an arrest warrant against the couple. Both were detained in March 5 of this year, after landing in Cancun’s International Airport.
What followed next was described as “hell” by the couple´s family, as they were separated and placed in a Cancun’s prison, awaiting trial, an overcrowed place filled with violent felons. They did not have access to a shower or even a working toilet, and instead had to use a bucket for both things.
According to Lindsay Hull, Chrity Akeo’s daughter, her mother told prison guards that she was allergic to fish, and for several weeks was only given fish to eat, which led to her going hungry and losing 25 pounds.
Instead of going to trial, government officials allegedly pressured both Americans separately to agree to pay Palace Resorts 250 thousand dollars, as well as to delete the Facebook group they managed, and sign a non-disclosure agreement. There was no garantee oferred that they would avoid prosecution if they accepted.
Lindsay Hull stated that their family spent thousands of dollars in lawyers, without tangible results. They also contacted the United States Consulate without results.
Finally, after three weeks, she started campainging online for her parent’s release, as well as writing to the US Goverment, the Senate, Michigan’s governor and the media. After this, Tom Barrett, a state congressman intervened, and staff from the US Consulate finally visited the Akeo’s in jail.
After 32 days in prison, with the mediation of their state congressman, they reached a deal with Palace Resorts, by which they closed their Facebook group, paid 116 thousand dollars to a local charity, and signed a non-disclosure agreement. They also signed an agreement which sent their dispute with Palace Resorts to international arbitration.
The prosecution dropped charges and Paul and Christy Akeo were escorted to a jet to fly them back home.
Now, four months after that ordeal, the Michigan couple has sued Palace Resorts and José Chapur in a Florida court, of defamation, malicious prosecution, abuse of process and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to their attorney, Palace Resorts “weaponized” the Mexican justice system to make them sign an agreement under duress.
The couple has also filed an injunction and restraining order against the international arbitration.
“We learned from our lawyers that we needed to sign the Mutual Release and Nondisparagement Agreement in favor of Palace Elite to be released from these terrible circumstances,” Christy Akeo’s statement filed Aug. 20 said. “We signed the Agreement where we were told to by our lawyers. While signing the Agreement, Palace lawyer Kevin was standing over us glaring at us. This was the first time we ever saw the Agreement.”
According to Lindsay Hull, her parents haven’t been the same since their harrowing stint in prison, with both now suffering from anxiety and fear for which they are seeking treatment.
Previously she has accused this hote chain with resorting to corruption of government officials and extorsion against her parents, in order to make an example of them and to silence disgrunted time share members.
