Suit alleges security abuse at Tropicana Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY NJ Dec 30, 2021— A Pennsylvania man has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming security guards at Tropicana Atlantic City injured him and improperly held him in their custody following an incident in May.
Scott Christensen, 38, of Clifton Heights, Delaware County, alleges the incident happened while visiting the resort May 2, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Camden and Christensen’s attorney, Paul D’Amato.
Tropicana Atlantic City is owned by Caesars Entertainment Corp., which by company policy does not comment on litigation, Caesars spokesperson Noel Stevenson said.
Christensen was visiting the resort with his girlfriend and another couple when he was confronted by another patron about him improperly wearing a mask, D’Amato said.
After the confrontation, a casino surveillance video provided to The Press by D’Amato shows Christensen and his girlfriend being escorted out of the building by security.
After being taken toward an exit, Christensen and the patron encounter each other again at a blackjack table and engage in a verbal altercation before Christensen is tackled to the floor by security in what D’Amato described as a “jujitsu” type move.
Christensen can be seen on video limping before being transported to a holding room in a wheelchair. He suffered a torn quadriceps from the incident, D’Amato said.
“Plaintiff, in public view, was unlawfully placed in handcuffs and again subjected to further excessive, unreasonable, and unlawful force up to being taken to a holding and detention area unlawfully, and against his will, at a time when urgent medical care should have been provided,” the lawsuit says.
Christensen was originally charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. Two of the charges were eventually dropped, with Christensen pleading guilty to one count of petty disorderly conduct, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit said Christensen did not violate any New Jersey laws during his visit to Tropicana, and there was no probable cause to charge him with the original offenses.
The suit further alleges that from his injuries and unlawful and reckless detention by the casino’s employees, Christensen has suffered personal and emotional pain and “permanent function impairment.” He’s also endured medical and related expenses, anticipating more in the future, the suit says.
Christensen is asking the company to provide punitive damage relief. He’s also asking for “compensatory damages, litigation cost, and interest including any pre-judgment interest to which he may be entitled.”
Caesars faced several suits in 2014 for similar incidents involving use of force by security for minor incidents at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, some of which were featured on ABC’s investigative news program “20/20.”
