Personal Injury Lawyer Case
Patron Stabbed in Bar – Negligent Security – $185,000.00
Reported in the Lawyers Weekly
The plaintiff was present at a bar establishment. At this time, another patron of the establishment inappropriately groped a female patron. After this incident, the plaintiff confronted the assailant to discuss the situation. This led to an exchange of words and threats. The plaintiff decided to take further action by speaking with the manager of the club about the events that had occurred. In turn, the manager assigned a bouncer to remove the assailant from the premises.
Unfortunately, the assailant was never told to leave. When the bar was set to close, the assailant was waiting by the door. As the plaintiff walked towards the exit, the assailant took a piece of glass and lunged towards the plaintiff’s throat. This resulted in a large gash and severe bleeding.
During this incident, the plaintiff suffered a large wound of the neck. This required sutures as well as surgery in order to repair the damage.
Even with these steps, a permanent scar was still left. In addition, the plaintiff also sustained facial nerve damage which resulted in some loss of feeling. Even after healing, the plaintiff still suffers from mental injuries such as anxiety and depression.
It is often times difficult to attribute liability to an owner during this type of circumstance. The situation became even more complicated when the assailant was acquitted of charges. The jury made the determination that the plaintiff provoked the assailant during the confrontation. In addition, it did not help that during the trial it was brought forth that the plaintiff had served jail time in the past for assault and battery charges.
Even with different standards, the civil case was a success in the end. This was due in large part to the fact that the manager testified that he had motioned for the defendant to be removed from the bar earlier in the night. And in turn, failure to remove the defendant was the cause of the altercation at closing time. This case settled at mediation for $185,000.00.
Since this case, numerous similar cases have made their way into courtrooms all over the country. Of course, the details of the incident, as well as the evidence present, will determine the outcome of the case and whether or not a settlement is reached. If the case involved negligence is also important to consider. One thing in common, however, is that working with an experienced lawyer on this type of case can provide plaintiffs with many benefits, including help with navigating the case in the court system.
Protect Your Legal Rights By Working With a Lawyer
One of the biggest threats to your legal rights if you are involved in a bar stabbing, is the state’s statute of limitations. Missing the state’s statute of limitations can lead to your case being thrown out, even if you have enough evidence to prove wrongdoing. Even if the defendant is found guilty and serves jail time, you could lose your civil rights if you don’t stay within the timeline.
If you were injured in a bar fight, whether your injury was due to a stabbing, or another type of assault, it is important to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options.