Family Files Wrongful Death After Security Allegedly Suffocates Patron at Casino

The family of a man who was killed by private security staff at a casino has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the casino for taking the life of their loved one. According to the lawsuit, private security staff suffocated the decedent while restraining him. The family sued Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens in 2022 following an incident in which private security staff allegedly held the decedent facedown on the asphalt pavement while hogtied with a large security guard placing a knee on his back.

The casino maintains that the decedent died due to methamphetamine use. At the time of the incident, they say the decedent was behaving erratically and posed a danger to others. However, the family’s attorneys argue that he was suffering from a mental health crisis and that the situation could have easily been de-escalated without the use of allegedly excessive force.

During opening statements, attorneys for the family told jurors that the decedent began hearing voices and talking to himself while playing at the baccarat table. This, in turn, prompted casino staff to order him to leave. Leaving $3,800 on the table, the decedent exited the casino to the parking lot and expressed his wishes to get into his car and leave. However, the casino maintains he continued to try to evade security and run around the lot. According to the family’s attorneys, he died only three minutes after being tackled and hogtied while a large security guard placed a knee on his back.

Analyzing the arguments 

Bolstering their case, the plaintiffs have surveillance footage of the incident that shows graphic footage of the extent of the force used on the victim. According to the plaintiff’s attorneys, the amount of force used to subdue the decedent was grossly out of proportion for a single, restrained, unarmed individual with police on their way. The plaintiffs are asking the jury to award $132 million or $1 million for each second he allegedly suffocated while restrained.

The defense contends that the decedent was never hogtied and further claims that the decedent never expressed an inability to breathe while he was restrained. The defense will rely on the testimony of the guards who allegedly killed the decedent and an autopsy report that indicates that the cause of the decedent’s death was methamphetamine toxicity. The defense claims that the coroner who performed the decedent’s autopsy will testify that the guard’s physical restraint did not cause his death.

Talk to an Oakland, CA Personal Injury Lawyer Today 

Venardi Zurada represents the interests of Oakland residents who have been injured due to the negligence of another party. You are entitled to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Call our Oakland personal injury attorneys today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin investigating your case right away. We serve the Bay Area from our office locations in Oakland and Walnut Creek.

Source:

blog.cvn.com/132m-wrongful-death-trial-over-casino-securitys-allegedly-excessive-force-begins-watch-via-cvn