Woman says drunk patron injured her at casino

NEW CUMBERLAND – A woman is suing over claims she was injured when the allegedly drunk patron of a casino knocked her down last New Year's Eve.

Nancy J. and George Lapcevich filed a lawsuit Dec. 8 in Hancock Circuit Court against Mountaineer Park Inc., doing business as Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, citing negligence.

According to the complaint, the Lapceviches were at Mountaineer Casino New Year's Eve party on Dec. 31, 2013, and were waiting in line at the "cage" to cash out prior to midnight in order to attend a New Year's Eve party in another room. The complaint states an inebriated patron of the casino lost his balance due to his intoxication and fell into the rope line and into Nancy Lapcevich, causing his head to hit her knee and knock her down.

Nancy Lapcevich says she sustained injuries, including knee injuries requiring a prosthetic, and the defendant is accused of negligence and violating West Virginia code by selling alcohol to the patron to the point he could not keep his balance.

The complaint states the defendant previously has dealt with fall-down incidents and fights between intoxicated patrons. George Lapcevich is suing for loss of consortium.

The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages plus interest and costs.

They are represented by attorney Donald J. Tennant Jr. of Tennant Law Offices in Wheeling. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Martin J. Gaughan.

Hancock Circuit Court case number: 14-C-178