Abel Rodriguez, et al. v. Hasan Perryman, et al.

Case Background

On August 27, 2020, Plaintiffs Abel Rodriguez and Cynthia Rodriguez filed a premises liability lawsuit in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas (Case number: 096-319133). The lawsuit stems from a violent bar assault at the Texas Live! entertainment complex, where Abel Rodriguez was attacked by a security guard, resulting in severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. The plaintiffs allege negligence in maintaining safe premises and failure to properly screen employees, seeking compensation for medical expenses and emotional distress

Cause

Abel Rodriguez, a 54-year-old veteran and former police officer, suffered severe injuries after a violent bar assault at the Texas Live! entertainment complex in Arlington, Texas. On September 9, 2018, Rodriguez, his wife Cynthia, and two friends visited Texas Live! at 1650 E. Randol Mill Road for an evening out. After dining, the group entered the PBR bar inside the complex, where customers could purchase souvenir beer mugs. However, patrons were required to leave these mugs outside the bar on a table. As the group was leaving the bar, they noticed a stack of glasses on a table and asked the bouncer, Hasan Perryman, about the mugs. Perryman replied that he took them home and gave them to friends and family. Believing the conversation to be friendly, Rodriguez picked up one of the glasses and left the bar to get pizza from a nearby food court.

While they were ordering food, Perryman approached and abruptly took the glass from the table where Rodriguez sat. When Rodriguez asked him about the action, Perryman shoved him violently to the ground. Without warning, Perryman raised the heavy glass mug and smashed it against the back of Rodriguez’s skull as he ducked his head. The bar assault left Rodriguez bleeding profusely from a severe laceration and in visible distress. Perryman escalated the attack by punching Rodriguez in the eye before leaving the scene. Cynthia witnessed the horrifying attack, and although some bystanders offered to testify as witnesses, she did not collect their information, assuming the facility’s surveillance cameras had captured the incident.

Injuries

The bar assault inflicted devastating injuries on Rodriguez. The impact of the glass mug caused a severe laceration on the back of his skull, requiring several layers of stitches to close the wound. Medical staff treating him initially failed to detect and remove several large shards of glass embedded between his scalp and skull. These shards remained in his head for a year before a second surgery became necessary to remove them. The attack caused a traumatic brain injury, leaving Rodriguez with cognitive deficits and persistent headaches that continue to this day. The incident also worsened his PTSD, leading to increased emotional distress and a diminished quality of life. Cynthia, who witnessed the brutal attack, experienced profound emotional suffering from the trauma of seeing her husband injured.

Damages

Rodriguez’s injuries led to significant medical costs, including emergency care, follow-up treatments, and surgical procedures to address the lingering effects of the assault. The traumatic brain injury impaired his cognitive functioning, severely impacting his ability to perform daily tasks and enjoy life. His physical pain, recurring headaches, and emotional suffering have persisted for years, further compounded by the worsening of his PTSD symptoms. Cynthia also endured emotional distress, watching her husband struggle with the long-term consequences of the attack. Together, the couple faced substantial economic and non-economic damages, including lost quality of life and ongoing medical expenses.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Abel Rodriguez |  Cynthia Rodriguez
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Brian W. Butcher | Edward S. Gaytan | Christopher C. Sisk
  • Defendant(s): Arlington Ballpark District Entertainment Block LLC | Arlington Live LLC | Arlington Pavilion LLC | Inner-Parish Security Corporation | TXL Western Saloon LLC | Hasan Perryman
    • Counsel for Defendants: Cynthia K. Hall | James M. Murrell | C. Timothy Reynolds

 Claims

Rodriguez’s lawsuit accused Texas Live! and Inner Parish Security Corporation of negligence in hiring and retaining Perryman as a security guard. The complaint revealed that Perryman had a prior felony battery conviction for assaulting a meter maid in Chicago and was hired without proper screening. The companies failed to keep an employment application on file for Perryman, further underscoring their negligence. Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that the Defendants engaged in a deliberate cover-up by hiding video surveillance of the bar assault. Instead of accepting responsibility, the companies argued that Rodriguez’s symptoms stemmed solely from his pre-existing PTSD, rather than the traumatic brain injury caused by the assault.

The lawsuit highlighted the Defendants’ failure to provide a safe environment and their negligence in allowing an unqualified and dangerous individual to work as a security guard. This premises liability case raised serious concerns about the dangers of negligent hiring practices and the failure to ensure a safe environment for patrons at Texas Live!.

Defense

The defense argued that Abel Rodriguez’s injuries did not result from the incident at Texas Live! but were instead linked to his pre-existing PTSD and war-related experiences. They contended that the traumatic brain injury and cognitive deficits he reported were unrelated to the alleged bar assault by Perryman. The defense further claimed that Rodriguez’s history as a veteran with PTSD explained his ongoing symptoms, rather than any actions by their employee or negligence on their part.

The defense disputed the severity of Rodriguez’s injuries. They implied that the Plaintiff exaggerated the impact of the incident for financial gain. The defense maintained that Perryman acted within his authority as a security guard. They asserted that Rodriguez’s actions in taking the glass mug without permission escalated the situation. The defense also denied any wrongdoing in their hiring practices. They argued that they were not aware of Perryman’s prior felony battery conviction. Additionally, they stated that his employment did not violate any standards.

The Defendants rejected allegations of a cover-up, stating that there was no conclusive evidence of hidden surveillance footage or intentional efforts to obstruct the case. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe environment at Texas Live! and denied claims of negligence or liability for the bar assault. Instead, they shifted the responsibility for the events onto Rodriguez, asserting that his actions contributed to the confrontation.

Jury Verdict

On November 26, 2024, the jury awarded Abel Rodriguez a total judgment of $60,650,000 in his lawsuit against Texas Live!, Inner Parish Security Corporation, and security guard Hasan Perryman. The jury held Texas Live! primarily accountable. It imposed $50 million in exemplary damages against the venue for its negligence in hiring and retaining Perryman and for its role in covering up critical evidence. Inner Parish Security Corporation, responsible for managing security at the venue, faced $5 million in exemplary damages. This was for failing to properly screen and supervise Perryman.

The jury also assigned $500,000 in exemplary damages directly to Perryman for his violent actions. These actions included assaulting Rodriguez and causing severe brain injuries. This premises liability case serves as a powerful reminder of the need for public venues to be held accountable for ensuring the safety of their patrons.

Court Documents:

Available Upon Request