Wood Smith Henning & Berman is pleased to report a decisive victory as Partners James Tyrie, Jennifer Provost and Charlene Lanez along with Senior Associate Matthew Lavoie, prevailed on a motion for summary judgment that resulted in the complete dismissal of the plaintiffs' complaint. The court delivered a well-developed, detailed order and decision, bringing a complete and favorable resolution to a case that had drawn significant public attention to the local community.
The litigation arose from a physical altercation at a casino involving three female plaintiffs and the casino's security officers. Portions of the incident were live streamed by bystanders on social media, and two plaintiffs later gave televised interviews to a local news station alleging that a casino male employee was the aggressor. Given the casino's location in a close-knit community, the incident generated widespread negative publicity and misconceptions regarding the conduct of both the casino and its employees.
From the outset, the client emphasized that it was critical for the litigation to correct the public narrative and establish what truly occurred. Through a comprehensive investigation, the defense team demonstrated that the plaintiffs initiated the physical confrontation. Security video footage maintained by the casino proved pivotal, clearly showing the plaintiffs as the initial aggressors. The footage also corroborated that a security officer sustained injuries during the incident.
In addition to leveraging video evidence, the defense team pursued an aggressive and strategic discovery plan. As a result, numerous claims were precluded and dismissed even before the court granted summary judgment to the defendant, based upon the plaintiffs' repeated failures to comply with discovery obligations.
"This was a case where the facts mattered and we were determined to ensure the truth was established both in court and in the community," said Tyrie. "The court's thorough decision confirms that our client and its employees acted appropriately and that the claims against them were without merit," added Provost.
"The summary judgment ruling fully vindicates the casino and its security personnel, dispels lingering public misconceptions, and highlights the importance of focused investigation, and disciplined discovery strategy on high-exposure litigation," said Lanez.
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