Casino sued by woman claiming she was assaulted by employee

GRETNA – A local casino is being sued by a woman who claims she was severely assaulted by one of its employees.

Melanie Martin filed suit against John Doe and Louisiana A-1 Gaming a Louisiana Partnership in Commendam and Boomtown Casino New Orleans in the 24th Judicial District Court on Dec. 16.

Martin alleges that on Dec. 16, 2012 at 3:30 a.m. she went to the second floor of the Boomtown Casino in Harvey to request a player’s card and an unknown employee became irate when her identification card would not properly scan. The plaintiff claims the defendant’s employee was very rude and she asked for his name so she could make a complaint to casino management and when he would not give it to her she reached for his jacket lapel when he attacked her. Martin asserts that the employee pushed her to the ground, jumped on her back and handcuffed and in the scuffle her face was injured when it hit the floor and she urinated of herself.

The plaintiff alleges that she was escorted to the casino’s security office and held against her will before being transported to a local hospital for injuries she allegedly received in the incident.

The defendant is accused of engaging in reckless and callous conduct disregarding the plaintiffs’ rights, using brutal and unnecessary force, conspiring to cause assault and battery, conducting a brutal and warrantless arrest when probable cause was lacking, false imprisonment, indifference to medical needs and conspiring to cover up facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, mental anguish and disabilities.

Martin is represented by Bruce C. Betzer of the Metairie-based Law Office of Bruce C. Betzer.

The case has been assigned to Division O Judge Ross P. LaDart.

Case no. 733-886.