The owner of Brooklyn Sports Bar in Hanover Township is facing criminal charges in the wake of multiple parking lot shootings and allegations concerning other illegal activities at the venue. The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement has filed criminal charges against the owner and two of the bartenders from Brooklyn Sports Bar.
According to investigators, three people have been shot at the bar on San Souci Parkway in the past 9 months. Two of those victims were shot in the parking lot on Sunday, December 30 – both are expected to recover. In another incident, police found a bloody and unconscious man in the parking lot.
State police also say that bartenders at the location regularly sold alcohol past closing time and served obviously intoxicated customers.
These charges could result in $2,500 in criminal fines and up to two years in jail.
Guy D'Andrea represents the victims of preventable shootings in civil court, helping them get the support they need and deserve. We’ve asked him to share some insight into bar owner liability for shootings and other violence:
Bar owners and all other property owners have many responsibilities – chief among them is the duty to keep their customers and employees safe from foreseeable dangers. This includes guarding against the risk of reasonably foreseeable violent crime. For example, if a bar has a history of violent incidents or is located in an area with high violent crime, the bar owner has a duty to take preventative measures to make the bar safer – such as hiring security guards who can conduct weapons searches.
When a shooting occurs due to a bar owner’s failure to meet their obligation to safety (or another form of negligence), the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit against the owner. Taking legal action this way can help provide financial support for medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages, and other damages suffered as a result of the shooting. These lawsuits also help demand accountability from negligent property owners who disregard the safety of their guests.
If you or a loved one has been wounded or killed in a shooting at a bar or nightclub, we understand the difficult times your family is facing. Fortunately, the legal system can help provide financial support and a sense of justice for some families. To learn more about your family’s legal options, consider contacting an experienced gun crimes injury lawyer.