As reported by NBC News Washington, the family of a woman that was found murdered following a Metallica concert is suing the security company that worked the concert venue.
According to the lawsuit, M.H., 20, was not allowed to re-enter the venue after being seen bloody and seemingly disorientated by witnesses during a 2009 heavy metal concert in the John Paul Jones Arena.
M.H.'s parents originally filed the lawsuit in 2011 in Charlottesville Circuit Court. Since the original filing the family and their attorney, Lee Livingston, have added further details.
The suit seeks $3.5 million in damages.
According to witnesses, M.H. was seen hitchhiking after leaving the arena during the concert. Her body was located on January 10 – in a farm field approximately 10 miles from the John Paul Jones Arena.
A murder suspect has yet to be identified.
The new allegations amended to the lawsuit were not made available to the press. However, Livingston stated that the lawsuit was filed in an effort to increase public awareness on how to respond to someone visibly suffering.
Livingston commented, "It isn't enough for young women like (M.H.) to be vigilant. Occasions will arise when young women need others to attend to them and offer reasonable care to them."
The security company named in the lawsuit as the defendant, Regional Marketing Concepts. Inc., doing business under the name RMC Events, provided security the night M.H. attended the concert.
The company failed to respond to reporters seeking comment, however, in the past stated that their "no re-entry policy" is a standard practice.
The lawsuit argues that the no-entry policy was not always enforced by RMC. Furthermore, in an incident with an intoxicated police officer at the arena, RMC staff arranged for the officer to be transported safely by taxi.
The injuries that M.H. sustained before leaving the concert are detailed in the lawsuit.
M.H., attending the concert with friends, left them to go to a restroom alone. While in the arena's restroom, she allegedly "suffered a serious head injury was rendered unable to take care of herself."
A bystander noted that M.H., who then had a 2 to 3 inch cut on her chin, was "acting erratically." The bystander did not note smelling any alcohol on M.H.
At some point after this M.H. left the arena and then attempted to re-enter. The suit accuses RMC staff of failing to allow her back into the arena, which was "a place of safety where medical attention could have been provided and where her friends could have assisted her."
The suit further details dozens of assaults that have transpired less than a half-mile away from the arena over recent years. Due to this, the suit states that RMC put M.H. at risk as they "knew or should have known…(about) a number of criminal assaultive acts."
The family seeks a jury trial.
There can be one or more parties responsible in the case of a wrongful death. Contact a personal injury lawyer to file your lawsuit today!