Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Maryland

Assault or Right

A couple days ago, a friend and I were at a club in Washington DC. My friend got escorted out of the club for a mistaken identity because there was a fight there earlier and the management assumed it was him. As they escort him out, verbal cursing and words are exchanged from both my friend and the bouncers. The bouncers told my friend to leave the premises, but when he refused because he was waiting for another friend to exit inside the club the bouncers chased him and hit him in his face. I then went to go help my friend by jumping on the bouncers back, that is when 7 of them jumped on me and beat me bloody. They finally let us go, but I didnt go to the hospital or call the police. I can't afford going to the hospital so I didn't go and I didnt know my rights so I didn't call the police. My friend and I went the the police station the next day and the detectives told us that since we had no witnesses present to see the incident, that it wasn't woth putting a complaint and file the paper work. He also said that since we didnt call the police right away, that if we tried to press charges, the club can turn around and press charges against us and blame us for starting the incident, which is not true at all. Any advice?


Asked on 5/02/05, 1:52 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Assault or Right

If you are considering filing a claim against the nightclub for your injuries, there are several problems. First of all, you interjected yourself into the fray by trying to help out your friend. This gives the bouncers the opening to say that all they did was extract you from the back of the bouncer you attacked, and that any injuries you sustained in the process were your own fault.

Secondly, by failing to obtain immediate medical treatment, you have compromised the seriousness of your injuries. All hospital emergency rooms treat people with legitimate injuries even if uninsured.

I suggest you write this off as a bad experience.

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Answered on 5/02/05, 3:55 pm


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