When we head out to our local shopping mall, premises liability is not usually at the forefront of our mind. Generally speaking, we tend to think of public places as safe places to visit and take our children. We rarely give much thought to what to do should anything happen when we are in public places. Unfortunately, there are times when even a pleasant outing, such as getting a child’s picture taken with the Easter Bunny at the local shopping mall, can become a dangerous situation.
A recent article about an incident that occurred at the Newport Mall in New Jersey City brings to light the fact that dangerous situations can occur in even the most unlikely places. According to reports, no charges had yet been filed at the time this article was written, but police are still investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the event.
According to authorities, a 22-year-old man playing the role of the Easter Bunny was involved in a scuffle with the father of a 1-year-old child who slipped from a chair while getting her photo taken. Fortunately, both men involved in the brawl at the shopping center were taken to the hospital with only minor injuries. The chaotic scene was captured on video and posted on Twitter. While it is unclear if an innocent customer was also injured as a result of the exchange, under New Jersey law, the operator or owner of a commercial property is responsible for accidents caused on their property.
Premises liability includes slip-and-fall accidents that occur as a result of dangerous property or conditions; however, determining who is responsible can be difficult. For those individuals who sustain injuries as a result of slip-and-fall accidents, seeking immediate legal representation can help determine if the property owner or operator is responsible and whether or not you are entitled to compensation.
Source: News 12, New Jersey, “Easter Bunny involved in brawl at Newport Mall in New Jersey City” Mar. 21, 2016