The Legal Herald
Michael Valentine and Nicole Owens Identified as Victims in Deadly Cedar Rapids, IA Nightclub Shooting. (TheGazette.com)
Could the shooting at a Cedar Rapids nightclub have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the victim’s family and injured victims? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
Local News
Update: According to KCRG.com, “25-year-old Michael Valentine and 35-year-old Nicole Owens have been identified as the victims of the shooting.”
Gunfire rang out at a Cedar Rapids, IA nightclub early Sunday morning, April 9, 2022, leaving two people dead and multiple others injured.
As reported by KCRG.com, “[p]olice responded to a shooting at the [Nightclub Lounge] at 415 3rd Street SE around 1:27 am Sunday morning.”
TheGazette.com is reporting, “[o]fficers were already near the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge…where they were responding to an earlier call about an incident outside. Just before 1:30 a.m., the officers saw an “exodus” of people fleeing the club, and rushed inside to find the fatalities and wounded.”
According to the report, “[u]p to about 150 people were in the club when the shooting broke out inside.”
DesmoinesRegister.com is reporting, “[the shooting] left a man and a woman dead and 10 people wounded…one survivor was in critical condition Sunday afternoon while the other injuries, which were all related to the gunfire, ranged from serious to minor.”
The shooting remains under investigation.
Our Legal Take
FORMER CLIENT: I had lawyers calling me, and friends telling me who I should hire…I trusted in The Murray Law Firm and I’m glad I did.
Nightclub patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises they are visiting. The level of security provided at the property is of significance, and is a relevant consideration when analyzing whether this shooting may have been prevented. The following questions are also important in assessing whether this incident may have been avoided:
- Have prior incidents of violence been reported on or near the property?
- Does the property have a protocol to check guests for deadly weapons prior to entering the establishment?
- Was there any suspicious activity or suspicious people on the property prior to the shooting.
- What security measures, such as bright lighting, visible surveillance cameras, and security personnel, were in place to deter crime and protect the victim at the time of the shooting?
Property owners are generally required to protect against foreseeable harm to anyone and everyone legally on the premises. Should the investigation into this incident reveal facts that establish that the property owner or management lacked adequate security to protect its visitors, the families of Michael Valentine and Nicole Owens may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their loss. in addition, any injured victims may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their injuries.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in handling security negligence claims on behalf of victims and their families, and suggests that an immediate, unbiased inspection and investigation will need to be performed so as to limit evidence from being altered, damaged or destroyed. The complexities of pursuing a negligent security case are well understood by the legal team at The Murray Law Firm, and it is imperative that the families of Michael Valentine and Nicole Owens and any injured victims retain a capable law firm who will work without delay to protect their interests.
OUR RESULTS: OVER $125 MILLION IN VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS FOR OUR CLIENTS
The Murray Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have obtained over $125 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including:
- A $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property.
- Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a victim of gun violence at an apartment complex.
- Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a family who lost a loved one to gun violence at a commercial property.
We offer our legal assistance, if desired. We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888-842-1616. Consultations are free and confidential.
Click Here to Find Out How to Choose the Right Attorney