Entertainment venues concentrate people, emotion, alcohol, cash, and social media into tight spaces and at predictable times. This makes them attractive targets for opportunistic crime, interpersonal conflict, and disruptive crowd dynamics. From a negligent security perspective, jurors expect operators to anticipate these realities. The difference between a near miss and a catastrophic claim often comes down to fundamentals: controlled ingress, clear egress, trained staff, and good operational security protocols.
This blog summarizes common pitfalls I see in entertainment venues and litigation, along with practical, defensible controls that raise safety and reduce exposure.

Access control is no longer just a collection of door hardware and badges; it is the operating system that governs how people, deliveries, and services move through a facility. For property owners and litigation teams, that shift matters. When a claim involves unauthorized access—tailgating, a propped door, a compromised credential—the court’s scrutiny increasingly centers on whether the access control program was reasonable for the risk profile, well‑maintained, and updated in line with available technology. In other words, innovation doesn’t just add convenience; it can influence the standard of care.
This article summarizes the practical impact of modern access control—especially, magnetic locks—on premises security. It also outlines how an expert witness evaluates systems for foreseeability, adequacy, and program maturity in Chicago and throughout nearby states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.

Minimizing liability begins with three concepts: threat, vulnerability, and risk assessment (TVRA). These terms are foundational to the security profession, yet they are also critical tools in litigation and to prove or disprove negligence.
When properly applied, TVRA assessments transform complex security failures into a clear narrative. They establish foreseeability, quantify negligence, and provide the evidence needed to persuade the trier of fact. This article explores the role of TVRA in litigation, security consulting, and proactive property management.

Lighting is one of the most critical yet overlooked components of property safety. In premises liability cases, inadequate or poorly maintained lighting is a frequent factor in determining whether a property owner or manager met their duty of care. From parking lots and stairwells to entryways and hallways, lighting design and maintenance play a key role in deterring crime, reducing accidents, and demonstrating proactive security practices.
This article explores the legal and safety implications of lighting failures, the role of lighting expert witnesses, and why preventative maintenance is a necessary investment in liability reduction.

Parking facilities are evolving rapidly. Across Illinois and the Midwest, operators are trading cashiers for kiosks, attendants for cameras, and round-the-clock lighting for energy-efficient motion sensors. These changes promise lower costs and smoother operations — but they also bring new questions about safety and liability.
From shopping centers and airports to high-rise residential towers, parking garages and lots are transitional spaces where safety is often taken for granted. When a crime or accident occurs, plaintiffs increasingly argue that shifts in technology or staffing created foreseeable risks. Understanding how these changes impact liability exposure is essential for owners, operators, and property managers.

Understanding the why behind theft and vandalism is just as critical as preventing it. For property owners, attorneys, and security professionals alike, exploring the psychological drivers behind these crimes reveals more than just motives—it uncovers vulnerabilities in security programs that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Access control systems have undergone a significant transformation over the past few decades, driven by technological innovation and an evolving understanding of security threats. From the simplicity of lock-and-key mechanisms to the sophistication of biometric authentication, this progression reflects a broader shift toward more intelligent, adaptive, and risk-based security practices.
This article explores the evolution of access control, tracing its path from traditional keycards to today’s advanced biometric systems—and what that means for security professionals, facility operators, and risk assessors.

In today’s hospitality landscape, security is no longer a behind-the-scenes consideration—it’s a core component of guest satisfaction, brand reputation, and operational resilience. Hotels, especially those in urban centers like Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, are high-traffic, open-access environments where safety must coexist with comfort.
Whether it’s a boutique property in Milwaukee, a full-service hotel near convention centers in Des Moines, or a resort outside a major metro area, hospitality operations face a complex array of security challenges that demand thoughtful planning and continuous evaluation.

High-rise multi-family properties have become fixtures in the urban housing landscape, particularly in dense metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Des Moines. These buildings offer scale and efficiency but also introduce complex and often underappreciated security concerns. As cities expand upward, building owners a are increasingly tasked with demonstrating that their security programs can anticipate, prevent, and defend against known risks.
With nearly three decades of experience in physical and operational security across a wide range of property types, I’ve found that high-rise residential buildings—particularly those with mixed-use footprints or legacy construction—require a different level of planning, precision, and accountability than their low-rise or single-family counterparts.

In high-stakes litigation, facts matter—but how you present those facts can make all the difference. For jurors unfamiliar with crime data, incident logs, or security operations, written reports alone often fail to convey the true scope of a case. That’s where visual evidence becomes essential.

When patrons step into a bar or restaurant, they expect a safe and enjoyable environment. Yet, in the world of nightlife and hospitality, incidents of violence, theft, or injury can—and do—occur. These incidents often raise complex legal questions around premise liability, and more specifically, whether the establishment implemented reasonable security measures to prevent foreseeable harm.

In today’s economic climate, property managers and business owners are constantly balancing budget limitations with the rising need for security. Fortunately, enhancing security doesn’t always require expensive infrastructure or top-of-the-line technology. With strategic planning and targeted improvements, you can implement affordable security solutions that reduce risk and increase peace of mind.

In multifamily housing environments, maintaining a safe and secure setting is more than just a tenant amenity—it’s a legal obligation. Property owners and managers must take proactive measures to prevent foreseeable threats. When they don’t, they risk significant exposure under premises liability law.

Workplace violence is a growing concern across industries, posing risks to employees, customers, and business operations. Organizations must take a proactive approach to mitigate these risks through comprehensive workplace violence prevention strategies. Businesses should assess vulnerabilities, develop policies, train and implement best practices to ensure a safe working environment.

Urban environments present unique security challenges, requiring a proactive approach to crime prevention. One of the most effective strategies is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a security framework that integrates design, infrastructure, and human presence to reduce criminal opportunities.

In security negligence cases, foreseeability plays a crucial role in determining liability. Property owners and businesses have a legal duty to protect individuals from foreseeable threats, and failure to do so may result in claims of negligent security. But what exactly does foreseeability mean in this context, and how is it evaluated?

In today’s data-driven world, crime demographic analysis has become a cornerstone of expert witness consulting in litigation. When addressing premises liability, security negligence, or related legal cases, crime analysis provides objective, actionable insights that can significantly influence outcomes. By combining statistical data with expert evaluation, attorneys can better substantiate arguments and present a compelling narrative in court.

In the intricate world of premises liability cases, the expertise of a security expert witness is invaluable. Whether it’s negligence, foreseeability, use of force or related, these cases often involve determining whether the threat was known and if adequate controls were in place to minimize the potential for a threat occurrence. A premises security expert should bring unbiased insight to support the understanding of the trier of fact. This role requires a deep understanding of security management, security technology, crime,foreseeability, and best practices in safety protocols.

In today’s world, crime prevention is often viewed through the lens of law enforcement and surveillance technologies. However, there's a subtler yet powerful approach to creating safer spaces—Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This method focuses on using architectural and landscape design to deter crime and create environments where people feel secure. By reshaping physical spaces, CPTED empowers communities to take crime prevention into their own hands.

Parking garages, despite their apparent utility, are often hotspots for various security risks. These structures rank third in areas of victimization across the United States, highlighting the critical need for effective security measures. This blog explores the importance of security assessments in parking garages and offers recommendations to mitigate these risks.