Cinnemark Theatres (dark knight shooting) suing victims family members for legal fees.
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I think this is complete crap. I didn't agree that the victims should be suing the theatre because they didn't have enough security; you can't plan for a psychotic gunman to be out to kill people everywhere you go, but personally, this is just scum of the gene pool LOW.. I hope people start boycotting this theatre because of this move. They should be happy they won, and let everyone move on with there lives.
As mean as it sounds, it's legal and entirely appropriate. It doesn't matter that the defendant who incurred the costs is rich, compared to the plaintiffs.
Think of you being sued for something and winning. You would have incurred a lot of expenses and legal fees in defending yourself. You have a right to have the people who sued you pay for those expenses & fees.
This is something for people to think about when they embark on litigation. It is very expensive and lengthy. A plaintiff should have to consider the cost of the defense when making the decision to sue him.
I'm going to guess, though, that along the way Cinemark offered to settle, which was rejected. I don't know that, but it's so often the case, based solely on dollars and cents. If Cinemark could settle out for less than it would cost them to defend themselves through trial, it probably would have made an offer.
Maybe, but I think the real take-away on this is that if you are being pressured by some greedy lawyer to make a frivilous law suit, you should be aware that there are real costs to loosing.
This was a such a bogus lawsuit. Like every theatre in the country should have a SWAT team on hand for all showings, in case a crazy person decides to start blowing people up? Gimme a break! That lawsuit was sheer greed, and the theatre was right to sue for damages.
Courts throw out frivolous lawsuits. This lawsuit was not thrown out, so it wasn't frivolous. For a lawsuit to remain in court, the court must find that there is some rule of law that's applicable, and some indication that the plaintiff could win, no matter how slight (i.e., SOME evidence).
It is standard practice after a lawsuit is filed for the defendant to move the court to rule the lawsuit as frivolous.
No, this has nothing to do with corporate America. They have the right, but its certainly in poor taste, and id be willing to bet they could eat the costs without a care compared to the families who may have lost the bread-winners.... Unless.
I never would have considered that it could have just been some shyster lawyer who talked all these people into suing in there time of grief. If it were the case, I guess then I hope the lawyer would have to pay back all the legal fees (if he took the case pro bono or something); but if this was something I see as grieving family members did, (and you know it probably wasn't all of them originally behind the idea, just all included to strengthen a case), then I think the theater should have just cut them some slack.
People are responsible for their own decisions. The person has to GO to a lawyer in the first place and meet with him, in order to get talked into anything.
I'm guessing that Cinemark offered a settlement at some point, and that it was rejected, so this is why Cinemark is asking for those fees and expenses. BTW, you have to prove to the court that all those fees and expenses are legitimate and were necessary. Even if Cinemark gets the order for plaintiffs to pay the fees, it almost certainly won't be for the amount asked for.
So it is just fine for families of the victims to sue a business and cost that business thousands of dollars?
Why didn't the families of the victims sue the shooters families?
NO, and EXACTLY.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpollen
Courts throw out frivolous lawsuits. This lawsuit was not thrown out, so it wasn't frivolous. For a lawsuit to remain in court, the court must find that there is some rule of law that's applicable, and some indication that the plaintiff could win, no matter how slight (i.e., SOME evidence).
It is standard practice after a lawsuit is filed for the defendant to move the court to rule the lawsuit as frivolous.
Well, I think based on what we know, I would think the entire concept is frivolous. Its not something you could ever expect, reasonably plan for, and certainly not the theatres fault.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpollen
People are responsible for their own decisions. The person has to GO to a lawyer in the first place and meet with him, in order to get talked into anything.
I'm guessing that Cinemark offered a settlement at some point, and that it was rejected, so this is why Cinemark is asking for those fees and expenses. BTW, you have to prove to the court that all those fees and expenses are legitimate and were necessary. Even if Cinemark gets the order for plaintiffs to pay the fees, it almost certainly won't be for the amount asked for.
Wasn't there 20 parties in the lawsuit and 13 victims? I would even think that some of them were talked into it. Some were looking for money "to help them grieve" Some are going to be caused financial troubles, and some were probably talked into it (especially to help the other victims' case).
I couldn't tell you how long, (at least the last year), but my local theatre and grocery store both have uniformed police officers out front by the entrance. Not always, but every day at night.
Yikes. Where do you live? I live in a major city and I have NEVER had uniformed police officers by the entrance of a movie theater. No security either.
Yikes. Where do you live? I live in a major city and I have NEVER had uniformed police officers by the entrance of a movie theater. No security either.
Phoenix, and out of the 15 or so grocery stores within a couple miles of me, there is only one that has one. Its not in a bad area either. Same with the theatre, although, I don't recall about the theatre, it may just be an armed security guard.
When we lived in Colorado, it was well known for SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). Essentially large companies would sue someone over some issue, not because of the actual issue, but to send a message. The message was: "We have deep pockets and can afford to keep you tied up in court for years, even if we lose. But you will be bankrupt from lawyer fees long before that. So don't cross us."
It was very effective and morally bankrupt. Yes, they are sending a message.
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