Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
The New York Post reports that last Saturday around 3 a.m. a stabbing took place outside Angry Wade’s located at 222 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Off-duty corrections officer Jaheem Smith, age 41, was stabbed while trying to break up a fight between a bouncer and several customers. The bouncer was also stabbed during the encounter.
The suspects were later identified as 27-year-old Genesis Cano and 33-year-old Andrae Hall. Allegedly, Hall shouted anti-gay slurs during the fight. Both of the stabbing victims were taken to the hospital to treat their injuries and appear to be in stable condition now. Cano and Hall have since been charged with attempted murder and assault.
Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Peter Thornen had this to say about the stabbing of former corrections officer Jaheem Smith: “We are doing everything we can to provide him with any help and support needed as he recovers.”
Attorney contributor Laurence Banville works with victims of violent crime in civil cases. We’ve asked him to share some of his knowledge on the legal options available to bar stabbing victims and their families below:
“Essentially, commercial property owners are legally obliged to ensure the safety of all of their customers and employees. These property owners then should be able to protect their patrons from preventable dangers and to do this they can offer adequate security on and around the premises. Things like video surveillance and enhanced lighting on the property at night may suffice, but of course, there are many other options. When a stabbing takes place at or around the place of business, in this case, a bar, one should immediately ask whether or not adequate security was supplied by the owner. If can be determined that adequate security was not found on-site and someone was injured or killed by a violent crime as a result, then the victim may be able to bring forward a lawsuit against the property owner for negligence.”
“But the victim’s attorney will have to go beyond just proving inadequate security. He or she must also be able to show that the violent crime that occurred was reasonably foreseeable. So, let’s say the owner of a bar knows that shootings and stabbings are becoming more prevalent in the area and decides not to upgrade security. Well, the owner may be held liable for the violent crime inflicted on the victim because the crime was reasonably foreseeable. To be clear, though, both inadequate security and a reasonably foreseeable crime must be proved together for a violent crime victim to bring a lawsuit against a property owner.”
If you or a loved one has been affected by a bar stabbing, it is important that you reach out to an experienced stabbing victim attorney today. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your legal options today, please contact one of our crime victim attorneys listed on our website.
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