New Jersey Nurse Alleges Assault And Civil Rights Violations In Latest In Series Of Complaints Against Harrah's Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amy Walsh, R.N., has become the latest in a series of plaintiffs to allege in Federal Court that while a guest at Harrah's Atlantic City she was brutally beaten by security guards – including uniformed members of the Atlantic City Police Department – and that she is still traumatized by the incident that was captured on the casino's security cameras. Her allegations, which include violations of her Federally protected civil rights, are outlined in a more than 100-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Newark, New Jersey.

According to the complaint (1:14-cv-05263-NLH-AM) in August 2012, Ms. Walsh, a 26-year-old Metuchen, N.J. resident and a practicing registered nurse, was the victim of an unprovoked attack by numerous security personnel while attending a bachelorette party for her legally blind cousin (two of the other six guests were also legally blind and dependent on Ms. Walsh and the others.).

"We made all the necessary arrangements through Harrah's to have a fun celebration for our wonderful, engaged cousin in the quieter, seemingly safer VIP area of the Pool After Dark club," she recalled. "Suddenly, Harrah's employees went from being hospitable, especially given our special circumstances, to hostile then violent, slapping, punching, kicking and dragging me against my will. When I attempted to take a picture in the detention cell of one of the guards – an Atlantic City police officer – with my cell phone, he grabbed me by the throat and pinned me against the wall. If it weren't on videotape, I'd think it was all a bad dream. Instead it is a living nightmare that I do not want to see inflicted on anyone else."

Ms. Walsh turned to trial attorneys Michael Maggiano, of Ft. Lee, N.J., and Alexa D'Amato Barrera, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., to represent her in the recently filed civil action that names numerous defendants, including her Harrah's employed and Atlantic City police attackers and the various corporate and governmental entities involved.

"Amy Walsh is yet another completely innocent victim of a culture of utter indifference and blatant brutality that permeates Harrah's Atlantic City – and the local police department - based on the pattern of now more than one dozen filed complaints," explained Mr. Maggiano. "Her complaint, supported by the security camera video, clearly depicts an insensitive, unsupervised and undisciplined security squad intent on inflicting serious bodily harm with no regard for human life. Ms. Walsh, still scarred by those events, understandably, based on the video and her chilling account, feared for her life."

Ms. D'Amato Barrera added, "Every one of the cases of excessive use of force by the Harrah's guards is troubling. This case is compounded by the fact that Harrah's personnel initially treated Ms. Walsh and the others – including the three legally blind members of her party – with courtesy and respect. And then, apparently over a minor seating issue (they were given approval to sit as a party of six at at a table usually set for five), guards unleashed their uncontrolled anger on a defenseless Ms. Walsh."

Ms. Walsh, a Seton Hall University graduate who works as a nurse on a medical-surgical floor of a North Jersey hospital, said at no time did any of the guards or their supervisor explain to her what was happening and why, or even offer to allow her to wear her shoes on the long walk from the poolside club to the detention cell. "I'm a diabetic and I was so worried the entire away about what could happen from my feet being cut up, and the possibility of contracting an infection," she recalled.

The complaints state in part, "The conduct by and through agents, servants, and employees of the defendants was outlandish, outrageous, willful, wanton, intentional, reckless, negligent, careless, and done without any excuse or justification and further demonstrated a corporate culture through management that brute aggressive, physical, violent, and unbridled brute force is an appropriate method of dealing with guests and business invitees. The attack was made at the approval, behest, and direction, as well as and/or indirect participation of supervising management."

It also contends that as a consequence of the reduction in the budget for the security departments, less qualified individuals were hired; there were fewer 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."

SOURCE The D'Amato Law Firm