Odenton's volunteer fire company was not responsible for people being shot or hurt at a party held by someone who rented its social hall, an Anne Arundel County jury decided Friday.
But the jury said the gunman, who is serving 18 years in prison for the crime, and the woman who lied on her application to hold the party in September 2005 should pay nearly $500,000 to the three people who sued.
Asked whether he thought his clients would collect, lawyer Judd Legum replied, "I'm not optimistic."
He had argued that the fire company bore responsibility because seven hall rentals in a year had resulted in violence. After someone was stabbed at a March 2005 party for which Temika Young of Annapolis rented the hall, the fire company told the county liquor board it would not rent again to people whose events had turned violent. She rented again, for the September 2005 event at issue in the trial.
The verdict was a victory for the fire company and for the county, whose self-insurance fund would have had to pay if the fire company had been found liable.
"That was the right decision," said Jonathan Hodgson, Anne Arundel County attorney. A trial on county liability is scheduled for the end of this month, but the issue is probably moot.
When Young rented the social hall for the September event, she said it was for an anniversary party. It turned out to be a for-profit dance party with a cover charge, cash bar and hired guards, according to testimony. Terrance Medley, formerly of Annapolis, angry that he could not leave to smoke and return to the event, got a gun from his car and fired into the party. He then crashed his car into a telephone pole.
Delvin Eldridge of Baltimore and Sharda Smith of Pasadena were shot, and Erica Williams of Annapolis was hit by a car as she ran from the gunfire. Each was awarded compensation by the jury for medical bills and related losses.
Young could not be reached Friday, but said earlier that she expected to appeal. Because she and Medley did not reply to the lawsuit, they were held liable.