Friday, May 17, 2013

Philly Radio: Shooting Victim Can’t Sue Clear Channel

Clear Channel is not liable for a shooting at rapper Beanie Siegel's birthday party, which it was broadcasting live in Philadelphia, a federal judge ruled.

According to Courthouse News Service, Tyheem Baker, a New Jersey resident, said he had been hesitant to go to Solo Nightclub with friends on March 6, 2009, but changed his mind when he heard on the radio that the club would be hosting the birthday party of former Roc-A-Fella artist Beanie Sigel, whose real name is Dwight Grant.

In the previous two years, Club Solo had been the site of several shootings and large fights, according to the ruling. Pennsylvania had even sued the club and one of its owners, Tam Tran, in 2008 to shut it down for a year and take its liquor license.

Though a conditional licensing agreement issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board forbade Club Solo from promoting its events, the club used DJ Boo Entertainment to advertise and broadcast Sigel's party live on Clear Channel Communications' radio station, WUSL Power 99.

Close to 600 people came out for the event.  Baker said he entered the club around 11 p.m. after going through a metal detector and pat-down. Though other guests were also searched, Baker allegedly noticed that DJ Khaled and his entourage were not.  At about 1:35 a.m., an unknown guest shot Baker in the chest while he was standing outside the restrooms. The club's video surveillance was not working, the incident was not recorded.

Baker brought a 2008 federal complaint for negligence against Sigel and others associated with the party. Seven of the eight remaining defendants moved for summary judgment, but U.S. District Judge Anita Brody cleared only half of that group last week.

Clear Channel Communications, WUSL Power 99 and Club Solo's landlords, Spring Del Associates and SDAGP Inc., "had no control" over Club Solo or the security provided inside the club, according to the 20-page ruling.

No comments:

Post a Comment