Man who beat girlfriend at casino sues over excessive drinks
EASTON, Pa. >> A Pennsylvania man who spent four years in prison for beating his girlfriend at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is suing the casino for allegedly serving him too many free drinks before the assault.
Nicholas Mullins, 31, is still on probation for the January 2012 assault. The casino contends Mullin alone is to blame for beating Caitlin Shields, of Pottsville, so badly that her brain swelled and she nearly died.
But Mullins claims he’s the long-term victim because he wound up in prison and can’t find a job as a result of his conviction —not to mention being kneed in the groin and having his nose broken during the argument, according to his attorney, Stuart Niemtzow.
“His life is the one that got ruined here,” Niemtzow said.
A 31-year-old Navy veteran, Mullins has claimed to have post-traumatic stress disorder and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in June 2012. He contends the Sands should have known he drank to the point of having alcohol poisoning at another casino months before and that his girlfriend was also allowed to drink, even though Niemtzow contends Sands security knew she was on probation for drunken driving at the time.
Mullins is suing the Dram Shop Act, a law on the books in Pennsylvania and 37 other states. It holds that businesses selling alcohol to visibly intoxicated people can be held liable for injuries they suffer as a result. Mullins was given at least 15 drinks before he and Shields returned to their room and got into a fight, Niemtzow said.
A Northampton County jury was picked to hear Mullins’ lawsuit Monday, before which Common Pleas Judge Paula Roscioli expressed “shock” at Mullins’ claim.
Shields “chooses not to file the suit against the Sands, but the man who ended up hitting her and causing her injuries, he wants to be compensated,” Roscioli said.
Mullins told police Shields attacked him after he lost $800, and contends he only slapped her in self-defense. But a doctor concluded Shields’ head trauma was consistent with being punched repeatedly, police said. She wasn’t criminally charged.
32 responses to “Man who beat girlfriend at casino sues over excessive drinks”
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Yeah, and should people be allowed to sue a restaurant for serving them fatty/salty foods when they are obviously obese with health issues? Where is the personal responsibility? And stop using “veteran with PTSD” as an excuse for every crime and stupid thing done by a person who happens to be a veteran – it gives other veterans a bad name.
Ditto….key words, ‘personal responsibility’ talk about a cop out, blame everyone else except yourself, and hire a schyster to defend you. Donkey.
Can I sue the casino because I lost too much money and became broke?
Why not! Your going to lose however.
I know a 100% diasabled vet who attributes his insatiable need to view hard-core Internet porn to PTSD. His wife fully accepts this. I’m certainly not in total agreement that this absolves Mullins of all culpability, but you just never can tell how PTSD manifests itself.
Yeah, and should people be allowed to sue a restaurant for serving them fatty/salty foods when they are obviously obese with health issues? Where is the personal responsibility? And stop using “veteran with PTSD” as an excuse for every crime and stup!d thing done by a person who happens to be a veteran – it gives other veterans a bad name.
Could be real, but check if he served overseas or in combat. If not atypical behavior of Millennials blaming others instead of accepting ownership of their miscreant acts.
I’m 70 and I have seen people of all ages blame others for their faults. Only losers make excuses.
Repeating your comments. I think you find fat people disgusting.
My first comment was sent for moderation because I used the word “s t u p i d” – which apparently the Star-Advertiser considers swearing.
I’ve always believed you should be responsible for your own actions. If you don’t know when to stop drinking, you shouldn’t have started in the first place. Your room is a reasonably safe place to be in. It’s not like he was driving while drunk.
So they should serve you unlimited drinks in your room?
This guy. I-D-I-O-T. I hope the case gets thrown out.
Another person who places blame on everyone else for all the problems in his life. He should man up and take responsibility for his actions.
The hangover was a humdinger, too.
He sounds a lot like HiLIARy. (and a lot of the Dems) Just blame everyone else for your problems, your missteps.
It was the FBI’s fault. Ha ha ha!
It’s interesting the way some people think. The Sands should have known he drank almost to the point of alcohol poisoning a couple of months before at another casino so it’s their fault? Why don’t they also blame the Sands for allowing him to lose the $800 that started the argument in the first place. Just when you thought you’ve seen it all.
Another example of our progressive, politically correct society where everyone is a victim as it’s never your fault. Anytime these people hear or see something they don’t like it’s considered traumatic and they need to be given a timeout to recover. The U.S. is becoming a wimpy nation full of coddled victims.
Hopefully now there is someone coming in to make some fundamental changes.
Hmmm. I wonder just who this paragon voted for.
Obama will pardon him! haaaa
Such a loser….I hope the casino’s lawyers have the case dismissed and he inherits all the court cost…he needs to accept responsibility for his conduct instead of trying to pin his shortcomings on others…..
“His is the life that got ruined”?!? This guy’s lawyer should never be allowed to practice again. Insanity!!
No can handle. STAY HOME AND DRINK. Do whateva you like at home. Crash anyplace in da house.
But if he runs out of booze he has to go out in his car and buy more.
Poor wittle baby. How awful that he was held down while someone poured 15 drinks down his gullet. Why, it’s almost like being waterboarded!
“Voluntary intoxication” is the name of the legal principle that will torpedo his claim.
He thought if hiLIARy can blame FBI Comey for her landslide loss why not blame the Casino for his actions?
(Sorry..couldn’t help myself)
I don’t agree it is anybody’s fault but his own. I also believe he and his girlfriend should be barred from all casinos and bars.
Judges who express their opinions on suits before the trial are acting UNETHICAL.
This moron is the epitome of the term “Loser”.
Fool. He is bearing the consequences of his own behavior.