NY-NY shooting victim sues, alleges lax security

By Steve Green

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 | 3:31 p.m.

A woman injured in the July 2007 shooting incident at the New York-New York hotel-casino claims in a lawsuit that security was inadequate at the property the night of the crime.

Steven Zegrean is on trial in Clark County District Court in the shooting that injured five people.

One of the victims, Carrie Zeravica of Irwin, Pa., on July 1 sued the Las Vegas Strip resort and its owner, MGM Mirage.

Zeravica, a dance teacher, was 23 when she was shot.

Zeravica said in the lawsuit she was shot by Zegrean while visiting the casino -- a visit that lasted from around 10 p.m. July 5 to about 1 a.m. July 6.

"Defendants breached the duty owed to plaintiff by failing to provide adequate security, by allowing said premises to remain dangerous, unsafe and unsecured and by allowing and permitting Zegrean to possess a gun on said premises resulting in a reasonably foreseeable attack on plaintiff," the Clark County District Court lawsuit charged.

"Some time prior to the shooting, Zegrean entered the premises wearing a trench coat, which was particularly unusual attire given the temperature and climate of Las Vegas in July," said the suit, filed by Reno attorney Carl Hebert.

Zeravica, who said she sustained pain and past and future medical expenses, seeks unspecified damages in the suit.

An MGM Mirage spokesman said Tuesday that the company doesn't comment on pending litigation. None of the other shooting victims have cases on file in Clark County District Court, records indicate.

Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Zegrean.