Cinemas Breathe A Sigh Of Relief

A jury has found that Cinemark was not liable in the 2012 shooting at its theater in Aurora, CO. where 12 people were killed and over 70 wounded when James Holmes opened fire in a crowded auditorium.

Attorneys for 28 of the victims filed a civil lawsuit claiming that Cinemark should have done more to protect its patrons, including: having armed guards, better camera surveillance, and alarms on the exit doors.  Cinemark's lawyers argued that the attack was completely "unpredictable, unforeseen, unpreventable, and unstoppable".

Cinema where shootings took place

Had the lawsuit prevailed, Cinemark, which is the third largest theater chain in the U.S., would have been required, not only to pay damages to the plaintiffs, but to add more and heightened security measures to its cinemas - which would have prompted more security at cinemas across the country.

The six jurors took less than a day to reach their unanimous, not guilty, verdict. However, another lawsuit, on the same issue, this one in Federal court, will begin in July.

Certainly, the odds of being killed in a mass shooting are low.  In 2015 there were 325 people killed in mass shootings in the U.S. this compares, say to, the 450 deaths that were attributed to getting in and out of bathtubs last year.  The odds are very small that you would be killed in a mass shooting, it's about one in 10 million, but nonetheless mass shootings have a profound, and over-reactive, impact on the populace.

For now, cinemas can breathe a sigh of relief, at least until the outcome of the Federal lawsuit - where the emotional issue of gun control will surely surface. James Holmes, the shooter, is in prison serving a 3,000 year-life sentence but building a defense for a retrial based on mental illness issues.

Best,
Jim