Plaza Mall being sued

[Lorah]

Okay, so I am not okay with violence against women in any way shape or form, but come on.... 2.5 million for being groped? And that's 2.5 million from the mall where it happened, not from the guy who did it...


http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070622/NEWS/706220308/1033/NEWS01

[meeg124]

I don't really agree with that either... especially since I don't the Plaza was his employer... don't they contract out to a security service? I'm sure they are trying to say that the mall management knew he was a menace, so maybe some other things happened that haven't come out yet.

[Kellie_MO5]

Even if the plaza WAS his employer, they couldn't have known he would do that, so they can't be held liable, right? You sue the guy that did it, not his employer... And saying it's their fault for not having more security since the plaza is "in a bad part of town"? Well, then it's her fault for working in a bad part of town! (no, not *really*, but she decided to work there and knew where it was, so she seriously can't expect that to win it for her, come on!)

[Colleen&Kail]

im confused, it said he had pleaded no contest to a previous assault charge in 2005? wouldnt htat be on his record, why would he have been hired then?....i think 2.5 million is a little excessive for being groped.......IMO

[becky]

okay since when has the plaza been in a bad neighborhood. Am I missing something here? this whole law suit seems sort of ridiculous.

[meeg124]

okay since when has the plaza been in a bad neighborhood. Am I missing something here? this whole law suit seems sort of ridiculous.

Juliard Park is right down the street from the Plaza... you can sit there and watch all kind of drug and sex deals going on. People get mugged all the time in the mall parking lot. I've known of several mom's that have had their purses taken when they were putting their kids in their cars. Honestly, I never feel very safe in that mall. Gang stuff happens there occassionally and that is why they put that SRPD kiosk in there.

[Colleen&Kail]

personally.....i *love* how tough the mall security looks! LOL i know one of the guys that works teir and i ask him to wal;k with me out whn i am there at night, i am TOTALLY paranoid

[becky]

ok so i guess i'm a bit numb to it all because Juliard park the few times i have gone was really nice and the homeless kept to themselves. then again i did go with my husband so i guess that makes a difference. As for the parking lot, well i always park on the ground floor near the entrance to a huge department store entrance. I haven't seen security at the mall other than the skinny guy walking laps around the walkway next to the food court. I had to laugh at him because he looked like he could easily be taken down by any one of the guys sitting in the food court.

No i know the area around the fair grounds and south park is rough. I hate to even drive down the neighborhoods in South Park becuase it reminds me of the rough areas I know in LA. I don't consider where I live as South Park but I got a phone call last night for a survey calling residents in South Park. When did i get into that area?

[Lynette]

At first I thought the same thing Kellie, that she shouldn't be able to sue the employer because they surely can't be responsible for their employee but then I started thinking about it more because he was hired as security so she had cause to expect a certain level of safety because of his presence when actually he was the problem. What if he was a cop and the same type of thing happened? I know, I know, rent-a-cops are not the same but still, wouldn't the police then be somewhat responsible for not checking out his background or fudging his test scores? The dollar amount is ridiculous though.

Becky- I never really noticed a problem either, and the one time I got Brian to go with me we saw a security chick riding around on a Segway and we both started laughing because we were thinking of that line "You see me rolling, on my Segway" from White and Nerdy. It wasn't until I started hearing other moms tell stories of problems that I figured I should just try and stay away.

[becky]

Lynette are you talking about the mall or the park?

[Lynette]

The mall

[Stacey]

IMO this is just another example of people filing ridiculous frivolous lawsuits. It's like a get rich quick scheme. Something terrible happens and immediately you've got your meal ticket. Of course, often it's the lawyers who are the ones getting rich of the cases. These kinds of lawyers have given the profession such a bad name.
Anyone see this case: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070612/pants_lawsuit_070612/20070612?hub=TopStories
$56MILLION dollars for a pair of flipping pants! I can't believe the case has made it as far as it has... scary

[becky]

well now when i go to the mall I'm going to look for the security. Honestly I never even noticed them being there except in the food court, not even in the parking lots, which is why I never thought that mall as being in a bad area or rowdy. As for the gang activity, if its there is very tame. I can tell you stories about gang activity where you would feel unsafe to go shopping.

[khanson]

I can actually understand them wanting to "financially tag" them. You know how when companies get a slap on the wrist, it doesn't usually change anything? It sounds like they are trying to make an example out of them. I think however it is directed at the wrong people. Obviousy the security company that works for Simon didn't do a thorough background investigation on the guy and he should have never been hired. The employees rely on the security company for their safety when they are coming in early and leaving late. I worked at that Macy's when I was younger, and let me tell you, I was scared shitless when I was leaving at 10pm in the middle of winter when it was super dark. The last thing I would think of is being attacked by someone that was hired to protect me. It's sad, really.

[Colleen&Kail]

well now when i go to the mall I'm going to look for the security. Honestly I never even noticed them being there except in the food court, not even in the parking lots, which is why I never thought that mall as being in a bad area or rowdy. As for the gang activity, if its there is very tame. I can tell you stories about gang activity where you would feel unsafe to go shopping.

look for the geeky looking guys on the two whelled scooters!!! LOL (with helmets of course)

[CMT]

I'm torn

I'm not at all suprised: If *I* was attacked by someone at a mall, I'd sue the pants of the security company, and slap a good sized suit on the mall who hires through that company as well. My reasoning is simple: When you are hiring security you should REQUIRE a background check on every person that you bring into your facility. Even if the plaza didn't RUN the check personally, they should have it on file on anyone who cmoes in contact with their customers.

I'm a little irritated that it's SO much and not split between the 2 companies. I think that would teach a better message.

I agree frivelous lawsuits are obvnoxious, however I think when it comes to your body, you better teach them a lesson what is and isn't acceptable.

[justamom]

I don't find it ridiculous. I mean that girl must have thought the whole time that he was going to rape her. She felt out of control of the situation and scared.

I would imagine that she suffers from post traumatic stress which there is no cure for. It is a lifelong investment in therapy and potentially medication. Both the mall and the security company should be held accountable for background checks and such. I mean could you imagine if this was a daycare? We should expect the same level of safety in every aspect of our lives.

If this guy had a history, then he should not have been hired, kwim. Large dollar amounts send a message. Now the Mall has a choice, drop the company or follow up with it's own background checks.

[Stacey]

I just want to point out that this guy had no criminal history and did pass the background check.

[becky]

ok now i'm lost. i thought he did have a history since they mentioned that he is surving time in jail for failing parole. or did this happen after the fact. i thought he had 3 offenses all together but none were related to the other.

[Stacey]

ok now i'm lost. i thought he did have a history since they mentioned that he is surving time in jail for failing parole. or did this happen after the fact. i thought he had 3 offenses all together but none were related to the other.

Those all happened after the fact.

[becky]

oh okay it all make since now. thanks :)

[Lindsay]

I agree with Tina. She expected safety from this man, and that wasn't provided to her. She was groped, and probably terrified. If she was abused in the past, who knows what sort of post-traumatic stress that attack set off in her. She didn't know that guy from Adam, he had a weapon on him, he could have done with her what he wished. She had no way of knowing she'd get out of it with "just" a grope.

I don't think the lawsuit was frivolous, but I don't think the company was completely responsible per se- they had no way of knowing this guy was going to do this.