SUIT SAYS VIDEO ARCADE DIDN'T PROTECT CUSTOMER

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 25, 1993                   TAG: 9303250188
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short
SUIT SAYS VIDEO ARCADE DIDN'T PROTECT CUSTOMER
Jolly Time, a video arcade at the New River Valley Mall, has been sued for $400,000 by a man who alleges an employee failed to properly protect him when he was attacked by other customers two years ago.
The suit by Jeffrey D. Lance, 26, of Christiansburg alleges that he was maliciously assaulted and battered by several other people inside the arcade.
The suit was filed Tuesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court on the second anniversary of the attack, which occurred March 23, 1991.
Lance's attorney, Beverly Davis of Radford, said Thursday that the assault happened after words progressed to shoves and punches.
The lawsuit claims that the employee on duty - who was not named in the suit - "refused to take measures to protect [Lance] from the assault and battery when the employee knew that the criminal assault was occurring or about to occur."
The lawsuit alleges that Lance sustained several injuries, including back trouble and partial but permanent loss of sight in his right eye.
Randy Pannell, manager of the arcade, referred a reporter to corporate headquarters in Delaware. Jolly Time's lawyer there said officials would have no comment.
Two people were criminally charged in the attack, Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith said. A teen-age boy was convicted of assault and battery. An adult appealed his lower-court conviction and a jury found him not guilty of assault and battery, Keith said.
The suit asks for $250,000 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB