A Negligent Security Case in Macon Led to a $750K Settlement

When a fight broke out late in the night at a restaurant in Macon, GA, an innocent bystander ended up getting shot. He survived the incident, but the injuries were severe. Chad Ethridge of Buzzell, Welsh & Hill worked diligently for months to prove how the late-night eatery’s history of negligence in securing their premises ultimately led to his client’s serious and avoidable injury.

From a Restaurant in Macon to Grady Hospital in Atlanta

It started as an innocent, late-night visit to a restaurant on Tom Hill Sr. Blvd. The victim and his party were enjoying their meal when a fight broke out nearby. Two men had gotten into an altercation that continued to escalate.

At one point, the victim asked the restaurant’s team to intervene and call law enforcement.

Shortly after, he was struck in the leg by a bullet. One party involved in the fight began shooting from the parking lot into the restaurant. Unfortunately, the victim was in the line of fire.

Not waiting on an ambulance, he quickly wrapped his belt around his leg for a makeshift tourniquet then drove himself to the ER in Macon. From there, he had to be life-flighted to Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA, for treatment.

It Was a Tricky Case

The client approached Chad to see if there was any liability on the part of the restaurant for the shooting. Chad reached out to several other attorneys who specialize in such cases, but they all indicated that they were not interested. So, Chad got to work researching and investigating what he needed to help his client out.

On the surface, the restaurant seemed to be in the clear and bore no responsibility for the incident. Georgia law states that entities like the late-night eatery are not typically responsible for unforeseeable criminal acts of third parties, nor are they required to take measure to prevent such incidents if there have not been any prior issues on the premises.

Still, Chad got to work. He sent multiple open records requests for any records involving the restaurant, as well as surrounding businesses, requesting 911 call logs from the 12 months prior to the incident.

Obtaining records and sorting through them took months, but the work paid off when his team discovered that the Macon restaurant had a history of violent criminal incidents on their premises. Through the investigation, it was uncovered that there had been a number of prior criminal incidents which took place either at or near the location, placing the restaurant on notice of the need to take steps that would prevent incidents like the one that led to the client’s injuries.

Because the restaurant had not taken such steps and did not have any security measures in place the night of the shooting, the restaurant acknowledged that Chad’s client’s injuries could have been prevented. It agreed to enter into a settlement of the claim.

The Settlement

After a long fight with restaurant’s insurance, Chad’s client ultimately received $750,000 for his injury. He finally had the money to cover his medical expenses, and he used the remainder to start a now successful landscaping business.

It’s the BWH Way to Fight Hard for Our Clients

Chad took on a tough case and won his client a settlement he deserved. And that’s the BWH way. Chad and all of the attorneys at Buzzell, Welsh & Hill put in the work to help our clients as much as we can after disaster strikes.

While others avoided the case, Chad stepped up and worked to serve his client as persistently as possible.