Jurors assess damages against killer, casino

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- The family of an Atlantic City cocktail waitress shot to death by her ex-fiance in a Harrah's Casino Hotel employee parking lot has been awarded nearly $12.6 million.

A jury found that Donald Burris and the casino were both liable for damages in the Aug. 6, 1997, slaying of Peggy Ann Selvaggio, 33, while she was on the phone with a 911 operator.

The victim's two brothers, David and Leonard "Ted" Selvaggio, claimed inadequate security at Harrah's was partly to blame for their sister's death.

The jury found Thursday that Burris was 98 percent responsible for the death. It awarded compensatory damages of $5 million, plus $588,000 for her wrongful death.

The jury held the casino responsible for 2 percent of those damages, or $111,760.

The nine-member jury also ordered Burris to pay $7 million in punitive damages. He was convicted in 1999 and is now serving a 65-year state prison term.

The brothers' lawyer, John Borbi, said he planned to appeal. He said Harrah's should pay more.

Russell Lichtenstein, the attorney who represented Harrah's Entertainment Inc., and David Strow, a spokesman for Las Vegas-based company, declined to comment on the verdict.