Institute man sues Club Venom after being shot

HUNTINGTON -- An Institute man is suing Club Venom after he was shot while exiting the club's dance floor.

John David Flowers and David Flowers Inc. were also named as defendants in the suit.

On Feb. 20, 2010, Darin Drane arrived at Club Venom with a group of friends and upon entering, was subjected to a pat down and security search as a condition to entry into the club, according to a complaint filed May 25 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Drane claims he observed fellow patrons also being subjected to the pat down, but despite club patrons being searched, at 2:40 a.m., he was shot by a fellow patron of Club Venom as he exited the dance floor.

As a result of being shot, Drane suffered significant injuries to his left hip and leg, according to the suit.

Drane claims the defendants failed to properly perform security techniques to ensure the safety of club patrons and permitted someone to have a small hand gun on the club's premises.

The defendants also failed to monitor patrons on the premises to ensure that violent confrontations would not occur, according to the suit.

Drane is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Jon D. Hoover.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 11-C-335