{"id":165275,"date":"2021-02-24T04:47:28","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T12:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=165275"},"modified":"2021-07-19T03:13:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T10:13:00","slug":"wind-creek-bethlehem-lawsuit-alerts-casinos-to-negligence-risk-for-crimes-attorney-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wind-creek-bethlehem-lawsuit-alerts-casinos-to-negligence-risk-for-crimes-attorney-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"Wind Creek Bethlehem Lawsuit Alerts Casinos To Negligence Risk for Crimes, Attorney Warns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania\u2019s Wind Creek Bethlehem gaming property is getting sued by a then 84-year-old woman who was violently assaulted and kidnapped during a 2019 robbery. The litigation provides key lessons for other casinos, says a gaming law professor.<\/p>\n

\"The
Wind Creek Bethlehem casino, shown here. The casino was the site of a 2019 robbery and kidnapping of an 84-year-old woman. She is now suing the gaming property. (Image: The Morning Call<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the lawsuit, Jean Hartranft and her husband, Richard, allege Wind Creek was negligent during the attack.<\/p>\n

It should have stopped the robbery and assault with appropriate security and surveillance practices, they claim.<\/strong> Instead, the casino later offered them a \u201cfree dinner as a proposed remedy,\u201d according to Pennsylvania\u2019s The Morning Call<\/em> newspaper.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The assailant had watched the elderly woman win at slots<\/a>. She cashed out a sum of money before he tailed her to the third floor of the casino\u2019s parking garage. A\u00a0Wind Creek employee heard Hartranft scream as she was attacked, but before security officers responded, the victim was forced to drive away from the garage.<\/p>\n

Thief Nabs $7<\/h2>\n

The assailant was later identified as Hykeem Sessoms<\/a>. He stole $7 from Hartranft\u2019s purse. He has pleaded guilty to the crime. Sessoms was sentenced to between 12 and 24 years in prison.<\/p>\n

\n

Over a year after the ordeal, Jean Hartranft continues to need counseling for the trauma. She now \u201clives in constant fear, rarely leaves her home and often has flashbacks of the attack,\u201d the lawsuit states.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Wind Creek did not comment on the litigation. Spokeswoman Julia Corwin did tell The Morning Call <\/em>the casino \u201cworked closely with local law enforcement\u201d during the investigation.<\/p>\n

The casino is owned and operated by Wind Creek Hospitality<\/a>, which is operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The casino was formerly known as Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The lawsuit claims the casino and related entities were \u201csubject to numerous violations and fines by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for security lapses\/violations including in the months leading up to\u201d the incident, the newspaper said. The plaintiffs seek more than $50,000.<\/p>\n

Increase Safety, Gaming Attorney Says<\/h2>\n

When asked about the incident and litigation, Robert Jarvis, a professor at Nova Southeastern University\u2019s Shepard Broad College of Law, told Casino.org<\/em>\u00a0 that “casinos must provide appropriate security to protect their patrons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Otherwise, casinos open themselves up to lawsuits, Jarvis said. “Even with insurance, such suits tend to be costly and time-consuming to defend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Negligence lawsuits can also lead to negative publicity, which can scare off customers, Jarvis Adds. When it comes to appropriate security, an initial step for casinos is to have a properly trained security staff, Jarvis said. That includes learning how to de-escalate incidents and knowing when to contact local police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Security protocols need to be updated as conditions in and around the casino change, Jarvis said. Most importantly, all staff members need to be alert for intruders and other potential problems.<\/p>\n

If the Bethlehem case proceeds to trial, Jarvis says there are likely questions that may be addressed in court to determine the casino\u2019s liability. For instance,\u00a0did attacks like this one occur previously?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before drawing conclusions about the case, Jarvis says there needs to be a \u201cfull airing of the facts.\u201d He also points out that \u201cordinarily, a defendant is not liable for the criminal acts of a third party.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this rule can be overcome by showing that the defendant effectively enabled the third party\u2019s criminal act,\u201d Jarvis said. \u201cClearly, however, casinos should never rely on this rule, but should do everything reasonably possible to prevent\/minimize harm to their patrons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casino Settled in Las Vegas Negligence Lawsuit<\/h2>\n

Jarvis said the Bethlehem case resembles another one called \u00a0Kawamura v. Boyd Gaming Corp.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

In that case, a lawsuit was filed after a Las Vegas casino patron was badly beaten by a homeless man who had been using the casino\u2019s restroom. The patron and his wife sued. They alleged the casino had inadequate security.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Jarvis said the casino claimed the attack happened \u201cso fast — \u2018less than a minute\u2019 — that it could not have been prevented. When the court rejects the casino\u2019s motion for summary judgment, it settles.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania\u2019s Wind Creek Bethlehem gaming property is getting sued by a then 84-year-old woman who was violently assaulted and kidnapped during a 2019 robbery. The litigation provides key lessons for other casinos, says a gaming law professor. In the lawsuit, Jean Hartranft and her husband, Richard, allege Wind Creek was negligent during the attack. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":165277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWind Creek Bethlehem Lawsuit Alerts Casinos To Risk for Negligence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pennsylvania\u2019s Wind Creek Bethlehem casino is getting sued by an elderly woman. 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