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Who Was Providing Security When Nightclub Patron Was Almost Raped?

Florida law places a burden on bars and restaurants to take reasonable measures to provide a safe atmosphere for their patrons.  Sometimes bars and nightclubs don't do such a great job with this and sometimes they face negligent security claims.  I read a recent story on Orlando's 13 News that highlighted for me a problem that we often faced when pursuing Florida negligent security claims.

Apparently, Jarel Kent is accused of dragging a woman into the restroom of Shaker's Lounge in Casselberry and attempting to rape her at gunpoint.  At some point, the woman's friends were able to rescue her and somehow get the nightclub's security interested in doing something about Mr. Kent.

My first concern when reading the story was how it came to be that a man could drag a woman into a bathroom in the middle of a nightclub, with gun in hand, and attempt to rape her without security having any inkling.  It would seem to me that any reasonable nightclub would have some system in place to monitor at least the area around the restrooms, as restrooms in nightclubs are well-known to the be places where potentially illegal or impropr activity are prone to taking place.  Certainly, the club should have a bouncer or some other security personnell nearby the bathrooms, generally monitoring what is going on there.

My second concern is whether this nightclub is every going to be help accountable for its negligent security.  Unfortunately, many nightclubs and bars carry liability insurance that excludes payment of claims for assault and battery and other violent activity.  This means that injured patrons are often stuck trying to collect damages from a bar owner who's revenue is mostly in cash.  Very tough to do, indeed.

Any person who is assaulted or battered or who is a victim of violence in a bar or nightclub should call an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer to have all of their questions answered.