27-year-old Mission Viejo resident Robert Sickles suffered fatal injuries early New Year's Day when he was stabbed by 23-year-old Adam Randy Baker at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotel. The two men reportedly didn't know each other.
According to prosecutors, Baker, a Dana Point resident, was sitting outside an event run by Newport Beach promotions company Ones We Love Inc. when he tossed a cigarette at Sickles, who was with friends. Police say that Baker then allegedly shoved Sickles before stabbing him in the chest with a knife. Sickles' friend, 26-year-old Brian McTeigue, was stabbed in the back. Baker, who suffered facial fractures during the altercation with Sickles and his friends, also sustained a stab wound to the back of his leg, but officials believe it was with his own knife.
An outside firm had been hired to handle security at the event. Costa Mesa Police say that this added approximately 50 private guards to the hotel's security detail. About 5,000 people were expected at the New Year event. Sickle's death is considered the first stabbing in Orange County, California for 2011.
Violent Crimes
If someone you love was killed on another party's premise during a violent crime, it is important to discover whether you have grounds for a Costa Mesa wrongful death case. Property owners can be held liable if failure to provide adequate security or prevent such crimes played a role in allowing the fatality to occur. If the death occurred during an event, the party in charge of running the event or the company contracted to provide security could also potentially be held liable. The person that committed the violent crime may also be a possible Orange County, California wrongful death defendant.
Robert Sickles, OC Homicide No. 1: Stabbed Outside Hotel New Year's Party in Costa Mesa, OC Weekly, January 4, 2010
Man charged in fatal New Year's stabbing at Costa Mesa hotel, Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability, Justia
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