Nearly five years after visiting Booze Garden, W. Guinan has landed a $2.4 million jury verdict.
Credit: Goldlaw Personal Injury Lawyers
A Broward County jury has awarded more than $2.4 million to a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being shoved by a bouncer outside Booze Garden in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
According to GOLDLAW, the incident happened at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 6, 2021, in the Himmarshee Village entertainment district. W. Guinan, who was 31 at the time, had been working a promotional stop for Boston Beer Co. when a bouncer at Booze Garden forcibly removed him and shoved him past the threshold of the bar. The push caused Guinan to fall, striking his head on the concrete outside.
Guinan immediately experienced blurred vision, ringing in his ears, brain fog and headaches. He required nine staples to close a head wound and was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. A later diffuse tensor imaging scan confirmed a traumatic brain injury involving the right frontal lobe. In 2024, surgery corrected his double vision, although his tinnitus worsened. His treating neurologist, Dr. Carmen Ramirez, determined the injury also made him more susceptible to dementia.
During the disputed trial, the defense argued comparative negligence, pointing to Guinan's statements to paramedics and his initial hospital diagnosis. The jury ultimately found the defendants 65% liable and Guinan 35% comparatively negligent, returning a verdict totaling $2,406,202.40. GOLDLAW is currently in the process of enforcing the verdict.
The case was handled by GOLDLAW Litigation Attorneys Timothy Kenison and Paul McBride.
“This verdict represents much more than a number,” Kenison said. “It reflects that hard work, passion and faith in the judicial system can still result in justice for those who have had life-altering injuries and whose voices cannot easily be heard. Every case is unique, and every client deserves dedicated advocacy, compassion, and a team willing to fight for the justice they deserve. We at GOLDLAW are honored that our client trusted us to stand beside him every step of the way, and now that trust is blossoming into something more: a life-long friendship.”
The verdict also arrives as safety in Fort Lauderdale's downtown entertainment district remains under scrutiny. Over the July 4 holiday weekend, a man was fatally shot in a parking garage across the street from Booze Garden, and police detained a person of interest. The shooting, as reported by Local 10 News, is unrelated to Guinan's civil case but again drew attention to the Himmarshee entertainment district.
