A Hard Rock Biloxi VIP says parking arm crashed into her head. Now she’s suing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A MS resident sued Hard Rock Biloxi for negligence after a parking arm struck her.
- The casino denies liability, citing possible user negligence and other issues.
- The casino patron wants damages to cover medical costs, emotional trauma.
No buzzer sounded, no sign flashed and no warning beeped.
Instead, a parking barrier arm crashed down without warning on a Hard Rock casino VIP’s head, a lawsuit says. Pike County resident Lisa Paulk has filed the lawsuit in Harrison County Circuit Court against Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, along with three property managers.
Her lawsuit says she’s had to endure neck surgery, injured her back and suffered emotional trauma because the casino and named managers were negligent.
In a filed response, the casino and managers deny any wrongdoing. They claim Paulk either contributed to or caused her injuries through negligence and any medical treatment she sought was for a pre-existing condition or some other cause.
Paulk is seeking unspecified damages as compensation, plus punitive damages and any other relief to which she might be entitled, says her lawsuit, filed by attorney J. Ashley Ogden of Hattiesburg.
Damages sought from Biloxi casino resort
Paulk was injured upon arrival Jan. 12, 2024, at the casino, her lawsuit says. She was trying to pull into the VIP parking garage but her scanner card would not open the parking gate. She tried numerous times.
“Because the VIP gate would not open, (Paulk) was forced to exit her car and walk to the valet stand for assistance,” the lawsuit says. The valet couldn’t get Paulk’s card to open the barrier arm either. The valet was able to raise the gate with a card borrowed from the driver behind Paulk’s car.
Because Paulk had gotten out of her car, her daughter drove through the VIP entrance once the gate lifted. The valet was standing beside Paulk and told her she should walk behind her car into the VIP parking area. The barrier arm lowered without warning, her lawsuit says, hitting her in the head.
The lawsuit says the parking attendant acknowledged the barrier arm had been “malfunctioning for some time.” The lawsuit contends the area was not secured for safe use and no caution signs were posted.
The lawsuit says the casino failed to maintain its property in a safe manner, or train its employees to maintain a safe environment.
As a result of her injuries, the lawsuit says, Paulk has incurred medical bills, is still in treatment and expects more medical bills. In addition, the lawsuit says, Paulk will experience “future pain, suffering and mental anguish, permanent physical impairment, permanent disfigurement, future travel expenses and other damages.”
