Unless you are a sneaker aficionado, you probably did not notice that Saturday was the release date for Nike’s latest release of Air Jordan hightops. The Jordan brand, which has extended into shirts, pants, jackets and even fragrances, was poised to release the “Air Jordan 2 Wing It” in Foot Locker stores across the United States.
Demand for the latest shoe has drawn crowds comparable to releases of other shoes in the Air Jordan brand; which conjures up memories of Black Friday sales mobs. However, a story from the Minneapolis area calls into question just how safe store patrons may be during these releases. According to media reports, gunshots were fired outside the store.
Several male victims were hurt in the event, and their injuries were reportedly not life-threatening. Nevertheless, the event brings about important questions over whether a retail store owner could be held liable for a customer’s injuries.
Essentially, a store owner in Delaware has a legal duty to use reasonable care in protecting patrons from hazards. This means that they have to take specific steps to ensure their safety. For special events such as a shoe release, reasonable care would manifest itself in bringing in additional security for crowd control, establishing extra checkout lines to ensure timely sales, and limiting the number of people in the store at a time (if necessary).
If a retailer fails to use such care, and a patron is injured as a result, the retailer could be held liable. If you have been injured at a store, regardless of whether a new product release is a part of your experience, an experienced personal injury attorney can help.
