Two men accuse Vanity Nightclub in San Francisco of allowing security to drag them out, beat them in parking lot
San Francisco CA October 28, 2023
Two men are suing the owners of Vanity night club in San Francisco, saying they should pay for allegedly allowing security staff to batter them while they waited to make final arrangements with management over their bill when the club allegedly unexpectedly closed an hour early amid a graduation celebration.
Plaintiffs Roy Collins and Cesar Acosta filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court against the operators of the strip club, BT California LLC, as well as against several unidentified individuals, citing allegations of negligent security, negligent hiring, supervision or retention of employees, premises liability, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, violations of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the Ralphs Civil Rights Act.
According to court documents, on June 24, 2023, the plaintiffs were patrons of the Vanity Nightclub in San Francisco, celebrating one of the men’s graduation from a medical residency program.
They claim that while they were celebrating at a private table, the club allegedly unexpectedly closed one hour early. As the men waited to make arrangements with management concerning the bottles of liquor they had purchased but had not yet finished, they assert they were physically assaulted by four members of the club’s security staff without reason.
According to the lawsuit, the security workers dragged Collins out of the club and continued to beat him even as he lay on the ground. Acosta was allegedly knocked unconscious when he came to the defense of his friend. The lawsuit claims that a witness saw a Vanity manager give the security personnel permission to assault the plaintiffs. The witness also called 911 following the incident, but the four security members had left the venue and no arrests were made. The plaintiffs were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital to treat their injuries.
The plaintiffs allege that Vanity was negligent in its failure to properly hire, train, and supervise its security personnel, leading to an unsafe environment for guests. The lawsuit adds that the business is liable for the actions of its employees.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for pain, suffering, physical injury, fear, and medical expenses, plus interest, court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented in this case by attorney Cassandra Angel and Te’Reisha Graves, of the firm of Gordon-Creed Kelley Holl Angel & Sugerman, of San Francisco.
Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco case number CGC-23-609754
