The Chicago Police Department has shut down the Sound Bar nightclub following a fatal shooting last Friday, Anjalih 8. A security guard was killed and another man was wounded in the shooting.
According to police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says that the owners of Sound Bar are working together with police and city officials to develop an improved safety plan.
The city is taking this step based on an ordinance that allows the city to close a business deemed a threat to public safety until the owner takes measures to keep their employees, customers, and the public at large safe from the threat of violence.
The shooting happened early Friday morning after a large fight involving 15 people escalated into gunfire outside of the bar. 28-year-old Thurman Bailey was killed and a 58-year-old man was wounded in the gunfire.
Have you or someone you love been shot at a bar and now wondering “can I sue someone for shooting me?” Continue reading below for lawyer commentary.
Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea represents bar shooting victims and their families in civil lawsuits, helping them pursue the financial compensation they deserve. Here are some of Brian’s thoughts on legal recourse for these victims and families:
Business owners all have a legal duty to maintain the safety of their properties, and this includes having adequate security in place to reduce the risk of shootings, stabbings, and other violent crime. When a shooting occurs at a bar or nightclub, it’s important to determine if the property owner met this legal duty to ensure the safety of their customers, employees, and guests. If the shooting occurred because of inadequate security or another form of negligence, the victims and their families may have a case for a lawsuit.
For example, a bar owner could reduce the risk of violent crime by hiring security guards and having customers walk through metal detectors in order to prevent weapons from being brought into the bar. If a shooting is deemed reasonably foreseeable and there were no security precautions in place, the bar owner could be held liable for negligence.
If you or a loved one has recently become the victim of a bar shooting, we understand how painful this time is for you and your family. We want to help. You can learn more about your legal options by contacting us for a free consultation with an experienced crime victim attorney.