The Louisiana Supreme Court denied writs today in the case of Kimberly Pyles v. Anthony Weaver. Ms. Pyles was an entertainer at Rick's Cabaret when she was struck in the jaw by a glass thrown by Anthony Weaver. Ms. Pyles fell to the ground, sustained dental injuries, and later reported cervical and neurological injuries. Ms. Pyles later brought a negligent security claim against Rick's Cabaret.
Jury trial was held in March of 2005, during which Robert E. Kerrigan, Jr. '60 and John Jerry Glas '87 represented Rick's Cabaret. During Closing argument, Plaintiff's counsel demanded that the jury award $3.4 million in damages, and allocate 90% of the fault to Rick's Cabaret. The jury declined, allocating only 20% of the fault to Rick's Cabaret, and awarding only $450,000 in damages.
Plaintiff appealed arguing: (1) the jury erred in awarding only 20% of the fault; (2) Rick's Cabaret's 20% of the fault bought them 100% of the damages; and (3) plaintiff was entitled to a new trial because the judge was "too good" a friend of plaintiff's counsel, and "overcompensated" during the trial. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the jury's verdict.
