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A Texas jury has awarded $60.6 million to Texas Live! bar assault victim, a man who sustained severe injuries during an assault at a local bar. The verdict underscores the legal responsibilities of establishments to ensure patron safety.
Texas Live! Bar Assault Incident Overview
The plaintiff suffered significant injuries following an attack at the bar, leading to substantial medical expenses and long-term consequences. The lawsuit alleged that the establishment failed to provide adequate security measures, contributing to the incident.
The Incident
On September 9, 2018, Rodriguez, a veteran with PTSD and a former police officer, was at Texas Live! with his wife, Cynthia, when the assault occurred. Security guard Hasan Perryman approached Rodriguez after he took a souvenir glass mug from a display table, believing it was complimentary. Perryman forcibly threw Rodriguez to the ground and smashed the glass mug against the base of his skull, according to court testimony.
READ: Jury Awards Over $60 Million to Veteran Assaulted by Security Guard at Texas Live!
The injuries were catastrophic. Rodriguez required multiple layers of stitches, and shards of glass left in his head necessitated surgical removal. He suffered a concussion and permanent cognitive deficits that have significantly impacted his life.
Legal Battle and Defense Arguments After Texas Live! Bar Assault
Rodriguez and his wife filed a lawsuit against Perryman, his employer Inner-Parish Security Corp., and Texas Live! (Arlington Pavilion LLC). The defendants mounted a vigorous defense, arguing that Rodriguez’s PTSD contributed to his injuries and that he failed to exercise caution. Texas Live! also attributed negligence to third parties over whom it claimed no control.
Inner-Parish Security argued that damages should be limited to medical expenses and that punitive damages would be unconstitutional. Despite these arguments, the jury found Rodriguez completely blameless in the incident.
Verdict and Damages
The jury assigned 70% liability to Texas Live!, 30% to Inner-Parish Security, and none to Rodriguez. The total award of $60.65 million included significant punitive damages:
- $50 million against Texas Live!
- $5 million against Inner-Parish Security
- $500,000 against Perryman
Lead attorney Brian Butcher argued that both Texas Live! and Inner-Parish Security were negligent in hiring, training, and supervising Perryman, who had a prior felony battery conviction in Chicago for assaulting a meter maid. This lack of due diligence, Butcher contended, contributed to the tragic events.
Aftermath and Appeal
Following the verdict, Texas Live! issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to patron safety, calling the incident an isolated case involving a third-party security company. The company has indicated plans to appeal the verdict, although no appeal had been filed at the time of the announcement.
Broader Implications
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper hiring and training practices in the security industry. Businesses must prioritize thorough background checks and ensure security personnel are adequately prepared to handle incidents without escalating them into violence.
The verdict also reinforces the role of punitive damages in holding organizations accountable for gross negligence, sending a clear message about the consequences of failing to protect patrons from harm.
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