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NY-NY shooting victim sues, alleges lax security

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

Jury selection begins in New York-New York shooting case

Download the lawsuit

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dance teacher shot in Las Vegas casino

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.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

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By dave202

July 7, 2009

5:17 p.m.

Suggest removal

Ordinarily, I would think that this person is just trying to get as much money as possible (which might be true) but security is lax on the Strip. We've been lucky so far that terrorists or a deranged individual hasn't come into one of these properties armed to the teeth and start shooting. And the back of the house is worse. Anyone can walk into any casino through the employee entrance and get access to any point in the hotel. They will pay for this lax security one day....
By rejco100

July 8, 2009

12:12 p.m.

Suggest removal

The only thing that gets a HUGE security response is when someone has been completely LIQUORED UP and lost all their money, and complains.
By JerryWayne

July 9, 2009

8:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

I'm not trying to walk thru airport security just to go into a casino. This crime could have happened anywhere. Someone is just trying to get paid during a recession.
By Sunvisitor

July 9, 2009

9:57 a.m.

Suggest removal

That's just what we need, the strip to look like a military zone. That will bring the tourists in for sure.
By goingbust

July 9, 2009

12:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

I'm not sure the casino was responsible for allowing the patron to "possess a gun on said premises". They had no idea. No casino has metal detectors and the likelyhood that they will start with that is about zero.