To Serve (Food and Drinks) and Protect (from Attacks by Fake Ninjas)

Published October 7, 2011

A Long Island catering hall has no duty to protect patrons from a surprise attack at a Halloween party by a man dressed as a ninja.

The ruling said the attack was not foreseeable and the catering hall was not negligent in failing to predict it and protect patrons.

The plaintiff claimed four of his fingers were injured when the ninja slashed with a sword. The plaintiff said he had consumed six or seven beers and went outside the hall for a cigarette when the attack happened.

Source: Andrew Smith, “Caterer ruled not liable in ‘ninja’ attack,” Newsday, September 16, 2011 available at http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/caterer-ruled-not-liable-in-ninja-attack-1.3177383