Next to the biker thugs, the personality in Sunday's Waco shootout who's potentially in the most trouble is the now-former owner of the restaurant where it took place. For those who missed it, police in Waco were beside themselves that the owner of the Twin Peaks restaurant had ignored numerous warnings about allowing biker gangs to hang there.
On Monday--as if it had a choice--Twin Peaks corporate headquarters canceled the Waco restaurant's franchise, saying that management there had ignored numerous warnings from both law enforcement and corporate headquarters about the potential for violence. Later that day, corporate headquarters announced the Waco restaurant would not reopen. It's hard to see how it would have been able to open any time soon in any event, seeing as it's an active crime scene.
Based on what we know about the shooting, the restaurant's owner, Jay Patel, is in a world of trouble. If the police accounts are to be believed, he knew that there was the potential for trouble by letting the Bandidos and other gangs show up, and blew those warnings off. And because of that, we're extremely lucky that only nine people were killed. Moreover, it turns out that gunplay actually started INSIDE the restaurant.
Patel had the right--the obligation, in fact--to turn these guys away. And because he didn't, he's potentially in a world of legal trouble. Specifically, potential lawsuits from the customers in the restaurant, as well as bystanders outside the restaurant. The former employees could have grounds for a suit as well--not only did he put them in undue danger, but because of Patel's nonfeasance they're looking for work. I even have to wonder if you could make the case for criminal charges of reckless endangerment. But even if there isn't, there's no doubt this guy could potentially be sued into poverty.
I actually hope someone does sue him. The signal has to go out--when you show this kind of disregard for the safety of your workers, your customers and the public, you deserve to lose your business. That's the same thing that happened to Peanut Corporation of America and Massey Energy, and it should have happened to JPMorgan Chase for coddling Bernie Madoff. If I were Patel, I'd have a lawyer on speed dial.