Shooting Victim Sue Business Where Shooting Occurred

I’m David Holub, an attorney focusing on personal injury law in northwest Indiana.

Welcome to Personal Injury Primer, where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss personal injury law topics.

Today’s question comes from a caller concerned about a relative who was shot while attending a sporting event at a stadium.

A shooting victim may have the right to sue a business where they were shot, but success will depend upon the facts.

If the business owner or manager fails to provide adequate security measures, such as proper lighting, cameras, or adequate staffing, and this negligence contributed to the shooting, the victim may have good grounds to succeed against the business where the shooting took place.

An example of such a case involves a news report of a woman who sustained injuries in a shooting incident while attending a professional baseball game.

She alleged that stadium security failed to stop someone from entering with a firearm. The firearm, which the stadium operator did nothing to prevent from being brought to the game, was discharged inside the ballpark during the game. She further claimed that the stadium owner failed to adhere to a publicly posted policy prohibiting firearms at the stadium.

Allegations are not evidence, however.

In answer to the complaint filed by the woman, the stadium operator claimed that the gun that discharged was smuggled into the stadium by the shooting victim and that the victim shot herself.

Hopefully, a trial will reveal the truth as to what happened, and hopefully the truth will prevail.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you are a victim of someone’s carelessness, substandard medical care, product defect, work injury, or another personal injury, please call (219) 736-9700 with your questions. You can also learn more about us by visiting our website at DavidHolubLaw.com – while there, make sure you request a copy of our book “Fighting for Truth.”