A shooting at Rocafella's in south Atlanta left two injured Sunday morning, January 5, 2014.
According to Fulton County Police, emergency crews responded to reports of a shooting at Rocafella's nightclub on Old National Highway, just after 7:00am Sunday. Two victims were discovered with gunshot wounds and rushed to an area hospital, one in serious condition, the other listed as stable.
The south Atlanta community is once again left shaken by the incident, the third shooting in two years. A deadly shooting took place at the nightclub in January 2012. The following May, a robber was shot in the parking lot. Given the repeated history of violence, premises liability attorneys at The Murray Law Firm are now questioning whether a fatal security lapse may have contributed to this latest shooting.
- Following the previous shootings, what additional security measures were implemented by the nightclub owner and management?
- How was a gun allowed entry onto the premises? What screening methods, such as metal detectors and bag inspections, were employed at the time of the shooting?
- Was a security patrol on duty both in and outside the nightclub? What security measures, such as emergency call boxes, surveillance cameras and lighting, were available to patrons outside the club?
As the details of this investigation continue to emerge, The Murray Law Firm believes it is possible that Rocafella's nightclub failed in their duty to protect these two victims. Under Georgia law, property owners are required to protect those patrons legally on their premises from foreseeable risks. For example, should a nightclub owner have knowledge of previous incidents of violence on or near their property, it is their responsibility to take all precautions necessary to protect patrons from future acts of such violence. If they fail in this duty, the property owner and management may be held liable for all deaths and injuries that occur as a consequence.
Should the owner and management of Rocafella's be found at fault for failing to protect the victims of this shooting, both victims may elect to hold the nightclub civilly liable for their injuries. Such claims may be in the millions of dollars and would, most importantly, demand Rocafella's and all local nightclubs finally make patron safety a priority.
The Murray Law Firm works tirelessly to protect victims of nightclub violence, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information on our investigation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600.
