Beaten New Jersey Veteran Casino Dealer Latest To Allege Corporate Negligence Allowing Pattern Of Casino Security Guard Violence At Harrah's Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Frank J. Farrell, Jr., an Atlantic City casino dealer for more than 30 years, is the latest victim of a "gang-like" beating inflicted by in-house security guards at Harrah's hotel-casino, according to his recently filed civil complaint naming Harrah's, its parent company, Caesars, and numerous related businesses. He becomes the seventh plaintiff to file similar civil actions against the global gaming and entertainment giant.

Mr. Farrell, 55, who has worked at the Golden Nugget since 1988, and previously worked at Harrah's, asserts in his complaint that he came to Harrah's on the night of November 18, 2013 to inquire about lodging. He had been a guest of Harrah's in the past and was following up on a solicitation by the casino's Total Rewards customer-incentive program. Without provocation, Mr. Farrell, while attempting to obtain the information from casino personnel, was brutally attacked by a pack of guards.

Caught on the casino's security cameras, the guards are depicted throwing him down to the marble floor, kicking, kneeing, and pummeling the defenseless visitor, in full view of other customers gathered in the lobby.  While the four guards are taking Mr. Farrell to a holding cell, he is suddenly taken down a second time. Then one of the guards starts choking and, pulling him to the floor where he again beaten.

As a result of the beating, Mr. Farrell suffered numerous bodily injuries that required emergency medical attention. But first he was held for questioning in the casino's private lock up. The lawsuit (Superior Court of New Jersey / ATL-L-982-14) asserts numerous claims including assault, battery, false imprisonment, and false address. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney Paul D'Amato, of the D'Amato Law Firm, stated, "This was a clearly unwarranted attack that can only occur in a facility where the security guards are poorly trained, undisciplined, and have no regard for human life. Mr. Farrell is still hurting from the ordeal – physically and emotionally – and asked us to represent him to try to make sure what happened to him can't happen to others."

Michael Maggiano, of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C., co-counsel for Mr. Farrell added, "Mr. Farrell, like the others victims, are independently coming forward to share their personal horror stories. This is a clear pattern of complaints - all supported by the casino's own videotape evidence – documenting what happens when security budgets are cut and security is minimized: 'dangerously unqualified' people are hired and that sets the stage for such egregious gang-like attacks.

Mr. Farrell, a craps table operator, or stickman, who has an unblemished record of service to casinos along the Boardwalk, said, "I could not breath when they pounced on me and I begged them to get off. At one point I thought one guy ripped my ear off."

Besides Harrah's, the Caesars corporation owns the following Atlantic City casinos: Caesars, Showboat, and Bally's.  As part of the filing there are requests for a litany of corporate security-related records, surveillance tapes, and the deposition of Gary Loveman, the President & Chief Executive Officer of Caesars.

The complaint states, "As a consequence of the reduction in the budget for the security departments, less qualified individuals were hired; there was less efforts relative to the pre-screening investigation of potential employees; there was less training for new employees; there was less periodic training for employees; and there was consequently less supervision of security officers relative to the day-to-day activities."

Media Contacts :
Michael Maggiano
[email protected]
201- 585.9111

Paul D'Amato
[email protected]
609.926.3300

Stephen Rosenfeld
[email protected]
215.514.4101

SOURCE D’Amato Law Firm and Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C.