Slow progress in HOB lawsuits

February 26, 2010 – Two lawsuits involving former security officers at Marina City’s House of Blues Chicago are still working their way through the court system.

They are still trying to serve a summons on Rikki Jones, a south side Chicago resident and former HOB security officer accused in a lawsuit of assaulting a patron last July. A special process server, licensed but not employed by the county, was appointed on January 13.

That lawsuit, filed on October 8, accuses Jones of taking Kristin Chopp to an isolated room at HOB on July 20, 2009, and holding her there against her will. Chopp says she was then “battered about the face and body, placed in imminent fear of additional bodily harm, and intentionally subjected to other extreme and outrageous conduct” by Jones and other HOB employees.

She is seeking $50,000, claiming battery, false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.

The court also authorized parties in the lawsuit to receive medical records pertaining to Chopp’s injuries. A status hearing was scheduled for Friday morning.

Meanwhile, in the lawsuit involving Brittney Hernandez, whose October 12 assault by former HOB security officer Darrell Gibson was captured on cell phone video, the issue is too many people have been served.

On December 23, according to court documents, a deputy mistakenly served a summons on Gibson’s father, who shares the same name. The older Gibson is a 53-year-old retired postal employee and licensed minister. But when he sent a letter to the court trying to explain what happened, the letter was mistakenly entered as an appearance and answer to the complaint. That meant that the younger Gibson could not immediately file an appearance until the matter was sorted out.

In November, the 31-year-old Gibson (left) pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery of Hernandez and was sentenced to a year of court supervision and anger management counseling.

Representing House of Blues Chicago in both lawsuits is Robert J. Meyer of the Chicago law firm Swanson, Martin & Bell. He declined comment when reached by email on Friday.