Abel Rodriguez, a veteran and former police officer, suffered severe brain injuries after a security guard at a Texas Live! bar assaulted him, according to a lawsuit.
Rodriguez, who has PTSD, was encouraged to socialize by his counselor. On Sept. 9, 2018, the 54-year-old man went out to the entertainment complex in Arlington for a night that led to him suffering for many years, his wife and attorneys said.
Abel and his wife, Cynthia Rodriguez, were awarded over $60 million in damages by a Tarrant County jury on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The trial verdict in the lawsuit came after a six-year wait for the couple.
The total judgment amount of $60,650,000 includes exemplary damages of $50 million against Texas Live!, $5 million against Inner Parish Security Corporation and $500,000 against the security guard, Hasan Perryman, according to court documents.
The defendants’ attorneys and Texas Live! did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Night of the incident
Abel, Cynthia and their two friends met at Texas Live!, at 1650 E. Randol Mill Road in Arlington. After dinner they went to the PBR bar located inside the Texas Live! complex.