Kenneson v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

12 Am. Tribal Law 261
CourtMohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court
DecidedSeptember 25, 2013
DocketGDTC-T-07-115-FAM
StatusPublished

This text of 12 Am. Tribal Law 261 (Kenneson v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kenneson v. Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, 12 Am. Tribal Law 261 (Mo. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

MANFREDI, J.

This matter was tried before the court on January 17, January 18, and January 24, 2013. Plaintiff Kimberly Kenneson represented herself. The defendant Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority was represented by Attorney Robert Rhodes. Following the trial the defendant requested transcripts of the proceedings, and trial briefs were subsequently submitted.

This case arises out of an incident which occurred at the Mohegan Sun Casino on June 3, 2006. Plaintiff alleges that she sustained serious injuries as a result of an altercation which occurred when two patrons engaged in a fight.

The court has reviewed all of the exhibits which had been admitted at trial as well as the transcripts of testimony. Of particular interest is a video recording of the incident which is the basis of the claim. This recording was used at the trial and the court has viewed it again several times wrhen attempting to reconstruct the incident at issue.

Plaintiff is a 47-year-old woman who at the time of the incident alleged in the complaint was self-employed as a private investigator. On June 3, 2006 the plaintiff was attending a blackjack tournament at the Mohegan Sun Casino which was bemg held in the Rain Restaurant of the casino. The plaintiff was sitting at the bar in the restaurant with her cousin and another gentleman. The blackjack tournament was taking place in the rear of the restaurant away from the bar.

Michael Altman was a participant in the blackjack tournament and the eventual winner. Carl Rosati was a spectator at the tournament attending with a friend of his, Robert Coutu, who was a participant. Michael Altman testified at the trial of this case while Mr. Rosati’s testimony was received by way of deposition. The court finds that Mr. Altman’s testimony was less than credible, while the deposition testimony of Mr. Rosati on the whole made much more sense.

Mr. Altman testified that Mr. Rosati was trying to sell him stocks during the tournament and that he politely asked Mr. Rosati to refrain from doing so. Mr. Rosati on the other hand indicated in his deposition testimony that he and Mr. Altman exchanged “unpleasantries” and were both asked by the pit boss running the tournament to “shut up.” Mr. Altman told Mr. Rosati he was going to “get it” and gestured at Mr. Rosati with his middle finger. It is clear to the court that voices were raised and Ms. Kenneson was able to hear the exchange of unpleasantries between the two men at this time, including threats to kill. Although the plaintiff attributed the threats to Mr. Rosati and Mr. Rosati attributed the threats to Mr. Altman, it is clear that threats were exchanged in a manner loud enough to be heard at the bar area out front and by the pit boss or other casino personnel. Mr. Rosati’s deposition testimony supported the plaintiffs testimony in this regard in so far as threats being made.

Mr. Rosati then decided to leave the tournament area and use the restrooms. [263]*263In reviewing the video recording of the incident the court finds that Mr. Rosati left the tournament area and was escorted by two casino personnel. The recording clearly shows two men dressed in casino uniforms or suits walking behind Mr. Ro-sati while he was leaving the rear of the restaurant. Although they did not have their hands on him it is clear from the video recording that they were walking behind Mr. Rosati to ensure security in the area. As Mr. Rosati reached the stairs leading out of the restaurant the casino personnel waited and watched him walk down the stairs. They then turned and left him and returned to the tournament in the rear of the restaurant. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Altman is seen leaving the tournament area and walking to the front of the restaurant near the bar where Ms. Kenneson was located. At the same time Mr. Rosati returned to the restaurant area and proceeded up the steps behind an employee stationed on the steps, running to Mr. Altman where he attacked him. Mr. Rosati struck Mr. Altman several times and Mr. Altman attempted to fight back. During the altercation Ms. Kenne-son attempted to get out of the way and was pushed by both the men who were fighting, caught her foot in the bar rail and her body was jerked causing her certain injuries which the court will discuss later.

Eventually, the altercation was broken up and Mr. Rosati was taken into custody. The video shows personnel of the casino actually getting involved in the altercation and putting hands on the participants to break them apart.

Following the incident, Ms. Kenneson stayed at the casino overnight and subsequently sought medical attention for her injuries. As noted above, the court will discuss the issue of the plaintiffs injuries later on in its decision and now turns to the issue of liability.

LIABILITY

Pursuant to Section 3-250 of the Mohegan Torts Code, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority waives its sovereign immunity and consents to be sued for tort claims arising under the code. Section 3-245 of the Code defines negligence as being:

“conduct that falls below the standard established by law or custom for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of injury or harm. The standard of conduct to which a person must conform to avoid being negligent is that of a reasonable person under similar circumstances.”

Additionally, Section 3—52(a) of the Code states that:

“the substantive law of the Mohegan tribe for application by the gaming disputes court shall be: ... The common law of the state of Connecticut interpreting the positive law adopted in subsection 2 above, which body of law is hereby adopted as and declared to be the common law of the Mohegan tribe for application by the gaming disputes court, except as such common law is in conflict with Mohegan tribal law.”

In her complaint the plaintiff essentially alleges that the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority was negligent in failing to provide proper security and prevent the harm which came to her as a result of the altercation between Mr. Altman and Mr. Rosa-ti. Specifically, it is her claim that the defendant should have removed both Mr. Altman and Mr. Rosati from the casino after threats were uttered by the parties.

Defendant on the other hand claims that there was no duty to prevent the intentional acts of Mr. Rosati and Mr. Altman in this matter because the injuries sustained by the plaintiff were not reasonably foreseeable, and that the defendant had no notice to anticipate the conduct of Mr. [264]*264Rosati. Defendant claims that the video surveillance of the incident does not support the plaintiffs version of events and therefore there can be no liability upon the defendant. Defendant further claims that to hold it liable in this matter would be imposing a duty to physically restrain patrons, and that the court should not impose such a duty upon its security officers.

“The essential elements of a cause of action in negligence are well established: duty; breach of that duty; causation; and actual injury . ,. Duty is a legal conclusion about relationships between individuals, made after the fact, and [is] imperative to a negligence cause of action . .. Thus, [t]here can be no actionable negligence ... unless there exists a cognizable duty of care ...

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
12 Am. Tribal Law 261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kenneson-v-mohegan-tribal-gaming-authority-mohegangct-2013.