Graham Cent. Station, Inc. v. Pena

June 22, 2014 by Justia

Plaintiff, a patron of the Graham Central Station nightclub, was assaulted by other patrons of the club. Plaintiff sued Graham Central Station, Inc. (GCS), the nightclub’s purported owner, alleging that GCS failed to provide adequate security to protect Plaintiff. The trial court rendered judgment for Plaintiff and awarded him $450,000 for pain and suffering and mental anguish. GCS appealed, arguing that Plaintiff sued the wrong party and that the evidence was insufficient to support the damages award. The court of appeals reduced Plaintiff’s damages to $249,000 and otherwise affirmed. The Supreme Court reversed the court of appeals’ judgment and rendered judgment in GCS’s favor, holding that the evidence supporting a finding that GCS owned the nightclub was legally insufficient, and therefore, there was insufficient evidence that GCS owed a duty to Plaintiff. View "Graham Cent. Station, Inc. v. Pena" on Justia Law