Landlord pays $6M to 2022 office attack victims – NBC10 Philadelphia

Nearly two years after a woman was robbed and sexually assaulted in a Center City office building, the landlord settled a lawsuit and agreed to pay the victim $6 million, officials said.

The lawsuit alleged that there was negligent security at the office building near 13th and Arch streets because the suspect was able to sneak into the building without being noticed by the security guard manning the front desk in the lobby of the building building was stationed.

Even though entry into the building required everyone to be lured by security guards or use a key card, the attacker, identified as Willie Harris, still managed to get into the building and walk around, the lawsuit said.

Security deficiencies in the office building

According to the female victim’s lawyers, the office building had several security deficiencies at the time of the attack on July 5, 2022.

The reception desk where the security guard sat was positioned in the lobby so that the person on duty could not fully see the front door and stairwell unless they were watching the monitor displaying a live surveillance feed.

The lawyers’ statement also said that everyone has access to the stairwell to the upper floors of the building because the door leading to the stairs does not have a lock.

“Our client’s life was forever changed by this brutal crime that occurred during business hours at work where she felt safe,” said Kline and Spector associate Lorraine Donnelly. “Without the negligent security of the landlord and his security guard, this brutal attack would not have taken place. We hope that landlords in our city and elsewhere recognize the importance of adequate security to protect their tenants and employees, including from criminal acts by intruders. Our client will be healed for life from the scars of this preventable tragedy.”

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.

Willie Harris attacks a woman

Harris was able to use the stairwell to get to the upper floors of the nine-story building, officials said. He entered the eighth floor offices where he attempted to rob a woman after asking her about another woman she did not know.

He then asked her to remain seated in a chair while he searched for items in the office, Kearney said. The victim offered to give him her earbuds and earrings in hopes he would leave.

According to police, the suspect became angry and repeatedly hit and choked the woman. Then he raped her.

A second employee who had left for a 30-minute lunch break came back to the office and witnessed the attack. The suspect then fled, police said.

The colleague told police she saw the suspect outside the office building as she went on her break.

As Harris exited the building, he was not stopped or questioned by the security guard on duty, officials said.

Arrest of Willie Harris

Officers with the Washington Township Police Department in New Jersey were able to take Harris into custody just days later, and he was ultimately convicted of involuntary sexual intercourse, burglary, robbery and related charges, according to officers.

Harris goes by several aliases, including William Banks, Wil Harris, Billy Smith, Reese Smith, Willie Smith and Maurice Harris, Philadelphia police said.

The office building’s landlord ultimately settled the dispute with the victim and agreed to pay $6 million.

NBC10 reached out to attorneys for the office building’s landlord and Willie Harris. We have not received a response yet.