PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County man says he suffered a long list of injuries when an intoxicated fellow patron of Rivers Casino drunkenly fell on his right leg.
Thomas C. Taraba filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on June 16 versus Holdings Acquisition Co, L.P. (doing business as “Rivers Casino”), of Pittsburgh.
“On or about Jan. 7, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., plaintiff was patronizing the Drum Bar area of the premises. At that same time, a visibly intoxicated patron of the casino lost their balance and fell backwards onto plaintiff’s right leg, causing severe injuries. At all times relevant and material hereto, defendant owed plaintiff, and other patrons similarly situated, a duty not to sell, furnish or give any alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated person,” the suit states.
“At all times relevant and material hereto, defendant continued to serve the patron while he was visibly intoxicated. At all times relevant and material hereto, the patron was severely inebriated, had very limited control of his motor functions, and presented a danger to fellow patrons in his immediate vicinity, including to plaintiff.”
The suit continues that the plaintiff suffered the following injuries: Complex tear of right lateral meniscus; Peripheral tear of right medial meniscus; Extensive bruising of the right thigh; Extensive bruising of the right foot; Extensive bruising of the right ankle; Effusion of the right knee; Swelling of the right thigh; Edema of the lower right leg; Right knee pain; Right thigh pain; Right ankle pain; Right foot pain; Bruises, contusions and other injuries in or about nerves, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, tissues and vessels of the body; and nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression.
For counts of negligence and violating the Dram Shop Act, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of the jurisdictional limits of compulsory arbitration, together with courts costs, interest, punitive damages, and such other relief as this Honorable Court may deem just and equitable.
The plaintiff is represented by Richard G. Talarico of Woomer & Talarico, in Pittsburgh.
The defendant has not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-23-007557
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com