Can a DJ seek compensation for being attacked while performing?
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Can a DJ seek compensation for being attacked while performing?
I’m a DJ and I was attacked in mid-performance while working at a club. All of my equipment was stolen by a gang of 6 that physically attacked and I had to go to the hospital to address the injuries. In addition, I know the attackers as
another DJ group that works at the same club. Although the club has security,
they were completely absent from the DJ booth area during the attack and allowed the group that assaulted me to exit the club holding my equipment uninterrupted. Do I have any recourse from either the club or the organization that hired me to at least replace my equipment?
Asked on July 10, 2018 under Employment Labor Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
Your recourse is against the DJ group which attacked you, and since you know who they are, you can do either or both of filing a police report and pressing charges, or else suing them for the value of your equipment. As the ones who attacked you, they are liable.
The club or hiring organization are most likely not liable for you loss. One person (or organization, business, etc.) is not liable for the criminal actions of another person or group of persons except in very exceptional circumstances. You would have to sue them and show that the security was wholly unreasonable for a venue and activity/event such as they were having, and that could be difficult to do: for example, if they were dealing with another situation at the time, they did nothing wrong--there's a limit on what any reasonable level or amount of security can do at once; or if it looked like it was safer for their customers to let the other group exit than start a potentially large fight or melee, then they did the right thing. Showing security acted unreasonably may be difficult--sue (or press charges against) the attackers instead.
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