Jury Awards $5.4M To Woman In Sexual Assault Case At LA Gay Nightclub

A California jury has awarded $5.4M to a woman who reported that she was sexually assaulted by a male employee of the West Hollywood gay nightclub Here Lounge.

The 43-year-old woman sued the Here Lounge and club worker Victor Cruz, alleging she was assaulted and raped by him on March 23, 2009. After a 15-day trial in Santa Monica Superior Court, jurors found Cruz committed a sexual offense that harmed the woman and that Here Lounge's negligence was a substantial factor in causing that harm. They found the club was responsible for 40% of the verdict, Cruz 60% and attributed none of the blame to the woman. “This club turned a blind eye to sexual activity that was allowed to occur in the restroom area,” said attorney John Taylor. “Although they had a stated policy of security guards being present in the bathrooms, they weren’t present at the time of the attack. The guards abandoned the place where most problems go on.”

The victim called 911 after the attack and later picked Cruz out of a lineup. However his first trial resulted in a hung jury and he was acquitted at a second trial. The victim then filed the above civil lawsuit. (Tipped by JMG reader David)