Woman Files Lawsuit Against Hard Rock Biloxi after Being Hit by VIP Parking Barrier
In January 2024, a VIP gambler named Lisa Paulk from Pike County, Mississippi, filed a lawsuit against Hard Rock Casino Biloxi, alleging that she suffered serious injuries due to a malfunctioning parking gate at the casino's VIP lot.
On the day of the incident, Paulk's Encore Players Club scanner card failed to lift the gate multiple times, forcing her to seek assistance from a valet. The valet attempted to raise the barrier using another card, but it unexpectedly swung down, striking Paulk on the head.
As a result, Paulk sustained neck injuries that required surgery, emotional trauma, back injuries, and other damages. The lawsuit, filed in Harrison County Circuit Court, claims that the property was unsafe and lacked warning signs about the barrier, and that Hard Rock Casino Biloxi management failed to properly train its employees.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages, punitive damages, and other relief, citing past, present, and anticipated medical costs, future pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent physical impairment, disfigurement, future travel expenses, and other damages.
However, the casino and its three property manager defendants have denied all liability in their legal response. They argue that Paulk either caused or contributed to her injuries, which they say stem from pre-existing conditions, not the gate incident.
The Henderson case, involving Elizabeth Browner from Nevada, remains pending with no reported settlement or trial date. Browner claims she was struck in the face by a malfunctioning automated gate arm while leaving the VIP parking garage at Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino in Henderson, Nev.
The ongoing court proceedings highlight the importance of safety measures in public spaces, particularly in high-traffic areas like casino parking lots. Further updates on the litigation's progress have not yet been detailed in the available information.
- Lisa Paulk's lawsuit against Hard Rock Casino Biloxi, following a parking gate accident in the VIP lot, alleges that the casino-culture failed to provide adequate warnings and proper training for its employees, leading to valet negligence.
- The lawsuit, filed due to serious injuries including neck surgery, seeks compensatory and punitive damages, citing casino-games as a potential source of revenue that should fund necessary safety improvements.
- In a legal response, the casino and its management deny any liability, claiming either contributory negligence on Paulk's part or that her injuries resulted from pre-existing conditions, not the parking gate incident.
- Meanwhile, another case involving Elizabeth Browner from Neveda, who suffered a face injury due to a malfunctioning automated gate arm at Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino, remains pending, underscoring the need for ongoing focus on safety measures in casino-and-gambling establishments.
