Attorney Analysis: See the second section of this article for legal commentary from stabbing victim lawyer Dan Lipman on the rights of bar stabbing victims.
One man was stabbed and another was arrested after an altercation outside of Joel's Bar in Durango on Saturday, Anjalih 7.
21-year-old Garret Gilley suffered a non-life-threatening stab wound. Harrison Charles Hill was charged with second-degree assault for his role in the altercation. He also gave officers a fake name and was charged with criminal personation and violation of a protection order banning alcohol consumption.
According to the police, the two men knew each other and were fighting, but had left the scene when officers first stopped them.
Police are not sure when the stabbing occurred. Gilley initially did not realize that he was stabbed and only noticed after a second officer spoke with him. He declined to be transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Gilley was also cited for disorderly conduct.
Attorney contributor Dan Lipman is an experienced crime victim attorney who has represented bar stabbing victims and their families in civil lawsuits. Here is Dan with some info on the legal rights of these victims:
Bars often have problems with violence, so it's very important that bar owners do everything in their power to keep their properties secure. While some bar stabbings and shootings may not have been preventable, others may have only happened due to inadequate security or another type of negligence.
For example, a bar owner might be considered negligent for failing to improve security even after previous incidents of violence. In cases of negligence, bar violence victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has been stabbed or shot at a bar, you can learn more about your legal options in a free consultation with one of our experienced crime victim lawyers.