Couple sues owner of Camden inn Hawaiian guests evicted in 2001 for bringing toddler into room

ROCKLAND – A Hawaiian couple evicted from a Camden inn two years ago because they brought their 21-month-old child into their room has filed suit against the innkeeper.

Gilbert and Elizabeth Riviere of Waialua, Hawaii, had reserved a room at the Inn at Ocean’s Edge for July 20-23, 2001, they say in the lawsuit, which was filed in Knox County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Inn owner Ray Donner discovered that the couple had brought a toddler into the inn, which was in violation of the establishment’s policies. Donner told the couple they had to leave.

When the Rivieres refused, Donner summoned a Maine State Police trooper, who asked the couple to leave.

The Rivieres filed a complaint against Donner and the inn with the Maine Human Rights Commission. In April, the commission ruled there were reasonable grounds to conclude that Donner had discriminated against the couple on the basis of their having a child with them.

State law prohibits banning children from any public accommodations containing five or more rooms.

Donner said he was unaware of the law when he adopted his policy. He since has changed his policy, he said in April.

According to the suit, by using the trooper to evict the couple, Donner “falsely and improperly restrained [their] freedom of movement and action.”

The Rivieres are seeking a monetary judgment of a “reasonable amount, plus statutory penalties, interest, costs and attorney fees,” according to the suit.

Donner was unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon.