The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The owners of the Granby Theater will pay $1 million to the family of Thomas Holmes, a Norfolk man shot at a 2007 concert.
Legal and medical bills will take about three-quarters of the settlement in the wrongful-death suit, according to a settlement filed Tuesday in Circuit Court. Holmes' 5-year-old son, Dominic, will receive $238,000 in a trust fund, according to the settlement.
Holmes was shot several times March 28, 2007, during a concert at the Granby Theater. He was hospitalized in a vegetative state for more than two years. He died in August 2009. His assailant, Joseph Reid III, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the attack.
Legal fees and expenses for several firms totaled more than $400,000. The state will also receive $333,333 to cover part of Holmes' medical bills. According to court records, the state spent $1.2 million on his medical care.
Attorney Carl C. LaMondue said the settlement will encourage club owners to provide proper security and treat patrons fairly.
Attorneys for Bobby Wright, one of the defendants, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
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Fantasy, no , reality
Did you just disregard the post? The seals refused to pat down, literally allowing people in droves without even checking ID. Yes, there is a huge difference
Bad ruling.
In accordance with this ruling anyone injured during the commision of a crime can sue the owner of the location for not providing protectection from criminals.
The security refused to pat patrons down
At certain points, they literally allowed individuals in without even checking IDs. Why? they were navy seals for whom Bobby Wright insisted on hiring for their looks and not their experience with crowd control. This falls squarely on Bobby Wright and his silent partner. Bobby Wright had previously had a full DCJS security team in place but he wanted to replace them with these Navy Seals. Just because Seals have equiptment and kill on request doesn't mean the skill befits club security; it is a different world.
security refused pat downs
So put dcjs wannabe cops in there and none of this would happen? Sure if you live on fantasy island keep dreaming.
The shooting occurred during
The shooting occurred during a show featuring the local rap group Clipse, produced by the local group the Neptunes. The funny thing is, look at the lyrics for the song Lapdance from the Neptunes (warning, explicit):
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nerd/lapdance.html
It's all about, and encouraging bringing guns to clubs and such. So it seems fitting that someone actually did. Of course, the guys behind this song probably didn't grow up in that environment going to Kempsville High School, and just made the song to cash in. But meanwhile, little kids will idolize and look up to this stuff. In the end, it just hurts society. People whining about racism and all, meanwhile the black community sells itself out with this stuff. Dr. Dre sounds all hard in the mid 90s, but go back to NWA's song "Panic Zone."
Remember back when rap was fun? It seems like such a joke when Luke & 2 Live Crew were all over the mainstream media over their non-violent fun booty bass tracks.
I feel bad for Wright, the beef was between the two people coming to the venue. It obviously was settled. The people that sued him should be ashamed. Could he counter sue for damages?
funny
Hip hop show and a shooting what's new. That's why there are no "hiphop" bars on Granby street. The public and city dosnt want that garbage.
The new one is coming to
The new one is coming to Plume Street, and some shady website was drawing lines between people with the city of norfolk shutting down the other venues to eliminate competition for the new one that is opening.
Uh... What?!
Yes, this club hosted a hip hop show. Yes a thug smuggled in a gun. Yes, the thug found the person he was hunting and shot him. If this had happened at the Christmas Parade should the city have had to pay the million dollars? Bottom line, a thug had a gun, hunted down his victim and shot him. Why is this the venue's fault.
Before you chip in with "The club was shut down immediately after the shooting for safety violations." Look up the original story! The place got shut down for fire safety violations including using an extension cord as permanent wiring. I don't see how illegal use of an extension cord leads to being responsible for a shooting.
If there ever was a case for tort reform, this is that case! This business got NO JUSTICE!
Chris you are avoiding
The reason the suit was filed was due to the neglegent security. You are in denial
When you allow individuals
When you allow individuals the unrestricted right to carry weapons into a club or bar, the liability risk shifts to the owner to assure the safety of his patrons. While I'm certain this wasn't the intended consequence, it has nonetheless occurred.