On Aug. 8, 2016, at a concert in New York, a 24-year-old woman from Staten Island was violently struck by a beer bottle thrown by another concert attendee. She sustained a traumatic brain injury and reportedly suffers periodic seizures as a result, preventing her from completing medical school. Now, she is filing a lawsuit against Madison Square Garden, Live Nation, an employee and the rapper holding the concert.
The court documents state that the plaintiff was subjected to battery without just cause or provocation. The rapper, the venue and Live Nation were implicated for serving excessive amounts of alcohol at the concert and serving them in glass bottles instead of plastic cups. The documents also allege that in light of how crowded the venue was, there was inadequate security.
Furthermore, the suit alleges that there is a long history of violent and aggressive behavior at this particular rapper's concerts, which the venue and concert promoters should have been aware of. A spokesperson for Madison Square Garden commented on the lawsuit when it was filed on July 16, 2019, by saying that the security and safety of guests will always be their highest priority.
A case like this involves premises liability, which is the liability that a property owner would have for certain injuries sustained on that property. All property owners have a duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment for legal entrants.
As for entrants, they have a responsibility to use that property in a reasonably safe manner. If they do and are still injured, then they may seek compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic and non-economic damages. Victims may want a lawyer to assist them, especially with negotiations. If a settlement cannot be reached, victims might litigate.