fp Turks and Caicos

A woman who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by former Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Michael Misick in 2008 is suing Nikki Beach companies in a Florida court for unspecified damages.

Also being sued is Michael Penrod, Penrod Management Group and Penrod Management International for organizing the woman’s trip to the TCI to consult on design and a VIP program for Nikki Beach customers, according the action filed March 28 in 11th Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County.

Penrod is accused of ordering the woman to go to Misick’s mansion against her will and later defaming her by telling people that she “had consensual sex and sexual behavior with Michael Misick, a married man, and his paramour, in view of others,” the suit alleges.

At the time, Misick was married to actress LisaRaye McCoy.

Steve Savola, legal counsel to Nikki Beach Hotels and Resorts, said the suit’s allegations are “pure fiction and utterly without merit.”

“Three years ago, the FBI and Turks and Caicos law enforcement conducted a thorough investigation into this matter and submitted their files to the Turks and Caicos Attorney General who did not believe there was sufficient evidence to file charges,” Savola said.
Savola said Nikki Beach may file a countersuit against what he called “frivolous accusations.”

The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, is a resident of Puerto Rico who was living in Miami at the time of the allegations, according to the lawsuit.

Court documents allege that Nikki Beach “placed young women under the charge of individuals that were known to have substance abuse problems and to encourage reckless drug and alcohol abuse. These individuals were rewarded for supplying young women in altered states in which the females could be victimized by potential business partners and officials, as well as customers.”

Nikki Beach “sought to gain favor with (Misick) by presenting him with attractive young women in settings in which he could take advantage of them,” the lawsuit alleges.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Nikki Beach Holdings LLC, Nikki Beach Hotels and Resorts LLC, Nikki VIP LLC, Penrod Management Group Inc., Penrod Management International LLC and Michael Penrod.

All defendants are accused of negligent security, endangerment and defamation. Nikki Beach companies are accused of negligent supervision and negligent hiring of employees.

Nikki Beach Resort Turks and Caicos opened on Providenciales in March 2008 and received international media attention for guests that included sports and movie stars. In April 2009, the TCI resort was ranked second in the Travel Channel’s “21 Hottest Caribbean Escapes.”

Then in September 2009, the owner of the Nikki Beach property, Leeward Resort Ltd., was placed into receivership by its lender, and the resort was closed.

Nikki Beach currently operates clubs in Cabarete, Dominican Republic; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Koh Sumai, Thailand; Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.; Marbella, Spain; Miami Beach; St. Barts; and St. Tropez, France.