sue happy are we ? Attack Victim Sues Grocery and Security Company

[UtahProtectionForce]

Attack Victim Sues Grocery and Security Company



Jackson 09/05/07
Attack Victim Sues Grocery and Security Company



The victim of a June attack in the parking lot of a Jackson Kroger is suing the store and a security company.

Linda Knox, 61, was beaten and robbed in the parking lot of the Kroger on Interstate 55 in northeast Jackson on June 4.

Knox was approached by two men in car. One man got out of the car and demanded her purse, then repeatedly punched her in the face and body.

No one in the parking lot came to Knox's aid during the attack. She has permanently lost sight in one eye as a result.


Her attorney, Robert F. Wilkins, says both the security company and the grocery store should be held accountable for the attack.

"We believe the evidence will show there was a pattern of criminal activity at this Kroger," Wilkins said. "They should have known that they needed to protect their customers."

Knox is seeking over $8 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp...&nav=menu119_3

[Bill Warnock]

We are indeed a highly litigious society; however, in this instant case the headlight of this train has been seen many times over. The Cincinnati Ohio based chain saw this coming to a head in other like communities and has tried to deal with it through the use of unarmed guards, many of whom were not adequately trained. In many instances, they have chosen to close the stores rather than take strong action for which they have been successfully sued for overbearing actions of guards or failure to maintain a safe environment in a crime infested neighborhood.
The fact other shoppers failed to intervene as several shoppers were murdered in Memphis two years ago. After that incident, they closed that particular store. That is not the first time stores in inner-cities have closed because of criminal activity and a lackadaisical or indifferent city or county response.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Curtis Baillie]

My favorite saying - "It Is What It Is"

[Curtis Baillie]

I'm sure the attorney will know exactly what type/events of criminal activity has occured in the parking lot. Another one of my favorite terms - "Could of known - Should of Known.

A business has a duty to protect customers (invited guests) on their property. The degree of duty increases when the history of criminal activity increases.

[ValleyOne]

What, if any, bearing does this have on warm body firms that prohibit their guards from dong anything other than O&R?

Or, how many more suits of this nature will it take to change the mind sets of said employers to be more proactive, as opposed to; "You have two hands? Good, just sit on them-unless you have to use at least one of them to call 911."

Thinking about it, I don't O&R WBS will ever change.

[Black Caesar]

Attack Victim Sues Grocery and Security Company



Jackson 09/05/07
Attack Victim Sues Grocery and Security Company



The victim of a June attack in the parking lot of a Jackson Kroger is suing the store and a security company.

Linda Knox, 61, was beaten and robbed in the parking lot of the Kroger on Interstate 55 in northeast Jackson on June 4.

Knox was approached by two men in car. One man got out of the car and demanded her purse, then repeatedly punched her in the face and body.

No one in the parking lot came to Knox's aid during the attack. She has permanently lost sight in one eye as a result.


Her attorney, Robert F. Wilkins, says both the security company and the grocery store should be held accountable for the attack.

"We believe the evidence will show there was a pattern of criminal activity at this Kroger," Wilkins said. "They should have known that they needed to protect their customers."

Knox is seeking over $8 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp...&nav=menu119_3

Who knows. the lady might get paid from this.

BUT, people can have some pretty unreasonable expectations where security is concerned.

In '98 I worked an off duty security gig in the evening (every Thursday) at a grocery store in West Dallas. Mostly they wanted me by the door being visible, but i was expected to do a walkthrough of both the parking lot and interior of the store at least hourly. I was the only Officer on duty because it was a weekday, on weekends they had a unarmed S/O ride around on a golf cart to cover the parking lot.

I was returning to the front door from a walk through of the interior of the store when I heard a commotion from outside. Out the window I saw a lady struggling with a teen male for her purse in the parking lot. By the time I got halfway there the purse strap broke and the kid ran and dove head 1st through the open passenger side window of a waiting Monte Carlo.

The Car took off towards the street. A Hispanic guy in boots and a cowboy hat coming into the store and a off duty S/O (who wasn't affiliated with the store, just stopping by after work) were closer than I was and took off after the car, with me o their heels. For a second it looked like we would catch up to the car because it stopped at the exit because of heavy traffic, but then it shot out into traffic almost hitting several other cars, and then it was gone.

I thanked the 2 guys who tried to help and went back to the lady to ask if she were ok. She was speechless for a moment, then she looked at me angrily and asked why I didn't get her purse back .

Speechless myself for a second , I then told her we (me and the good Samaritans) tried our best, but we could'nt catch up. She then says "but you have a gun!!". Me = speechless again, And I then tried to explain to her that I couldn't shoot at people for taking a purse, and even if I could there were 2 people between me and them plus all the bystanders and cars on the street (I know better now to try to explain to someone in shock, I was still relatively Green). She wasn't hearing any of it and started off on a rant about having my badge for not doing my job and about "how I should have known the kid was suspicious when he was in the store"....

It's West friggin Dallas, EVERYONE looks suspicious, even the cops. I walked away before i said something mean to someone who had just been victimized. When Dallas PD arrived she went off again , even though the female officer tried herself to explain that all that could have been done had been done in that situation. She wanted my "name and badge number" and i heard she even called the grocery store's Corp office, but I never heard another word about it.

I KNOW she was in shock, but 9 years later her reaction still rubs me the wrong way...

[Hank1]

I KNOW she was in shock, but 9 years later her reaction still rubs me the wrong way...

That's Hollywood talkin'....She must have seen Steven Segal, Chow Yun Fat and Jet Li among others way too many times. BC, I am sure you did all you could. As we know, the "gun" fixes everything right?!? Deadly force to retrieve a purse.........

Be safe,

Hank

[BadBoynMD]

Not surprised, and this won't be the last of them. I remember times where people use to sprint across a roadway in fear of getting hit by a car. After they realized they could get paid, now they walk out in front of you. Mickey D's serves a hot coffee (duh), older woman spills coffee on her lap and gets paid. A security company I worked for, got sued because someone got there arse kicked. Funny thing is the contract was for the weekends only, and this was a "off" night. Bottom line is doesn't matter what you do, who you are, what you did, if theres a lawyer willing to take the case. You're gonna get sued.. just that simple. All you can hope is that you got your t's crossed and your i's dotted. Best issued equipment is the might ink pen.

[Christopherstjo]

Maybe lawsuits such as this are a good thing; serving a public interest by holding those accountable for turning blind eyes and failing to meet their responsibilities.