PATRON SHOT AT BAR RAISES PREMISES LIABILITY CONCERNS

A man is in stable condition after police say he was shot in the leg while visiting a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bar. The 38-year-old man suffered the gunshot injury to his leg on June 16 at around 1:30 a.m. Philadelphia police say the shooting happened after a fight erupted inside the bar. Police say that is when one man pulled out a gun and fired it at the victim.

The victim was evacuated from the bar, located in a West Kensington neighborhood, and admitted to Temple University Hospital for his injuries.

Police are still investigating the shooting. They have not mentioned a cause for the disagreement between the two men. The suspected shooter has been at large since he fled the scene of the crime earlier in the month. He is described as having worn a blue tank top at the time of the incident.

Patrons who frequent bars and nightclubs have a right to be safe during their visit. Alternatively, proprietors serving alcohol should take all reasonable care to ensure that their patrons are not harmed while inside their establishments. Otherwise, that proprietor runs the risk of premises liability.

For example, it is foreseeable that people drinking alcohol might get into fights with some frequency. Therefore, it would be prudent for a proprietor to take the precautionary measure of installing metal detectors or hiring extra security personnel to mitigate the risk of that harm.

A patron injured as the result of a preventable harm may be entitled to sue to recover compensation for his or her damages and losses.

Source: NBC 10 News, “Man Shot During West Kensington Bar Fight” Vince Lattanzio, Jun. 16, 2014