Burning Atlanta

Depositions in a rape lawsuit against the Everglades Club have shed light on some of the veiled practices of the exclusive club.

The club has been sued by former employee Melissa Legare, who was attacked by an illegal, undocumented club employee.

Testimony by club President William Pannill reveals a secret, stringent vetting policy for prospective members that contrasts starkly with a loose hiring process that allowed dozens of illegal workers with forged green cards — some with criminal backgrounds — to work for the club.

One of those undocumented workers, Esdras Cardona, raped Legare in the pre-dawn hours of April 2, 2006, after breaking into her dormitory room at the club.

Legare's attorney, Ted Babbitt of West Palm Beach, claims the club failed to supply adequate security, failed to support Legare after the crime and failed to properly check Cardona's background.

According to testimony from Pannill and Human Resources Director Tami Hubbard, the club was notified in the two years prior to Legare's rape that numerous employees — including Cardona — had Social Security numbers that didn't match their names.

Pannill said the club notified the employees to go to the Social Security office and straighten out the situation.

"The club knew that an illegal would never do that," Babbitt said.

"In my opinion, it's obvious they knowingly hired illegal aliens. It's either that or they're incompetent beyond imagination."

Two years before Cardona was hired, the club employed Jose Pedraza-Caban, who was living in employee housing when he was arrested on a warrant from Puerto Rico charging him with first-degree murder and a laundry list of other robbery charges and firearms violations.

Pannill said he doesn't know if there's a written policy regarding background checks on prospective employees, but he thinks they are done to varying degrees.

Babbitt asked Pannill if Pedraza-Caban's arrest should have been a warning to perform stringent background checks.

"I think we do try to find out," Pannill said.

"Yes, OK, we should have, and I wish we had, and I feel like we do try."

Hubbard testified that Cardona's employment application was left blank except for his name, address and Social Security number, which turned out to be false.

"There were no references, no prior jobs, no educational background, no history," Babbitt said.

"It's interesting if you compare his application to Ms. Legare's. Hers is complete: complete employment, complete educational history, references, a copy of her passport and all her prior addresses. They practically asked for her blood type.

"Compare that with Mr. Cardona. They know very well they can't get that information from an illegal alien."

Dear Ms. Legare,

I hope you successfully sue these jerks into bankruptcy and suicides.