LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A woman is suing the Paddock Shops in east Louisville after she was brutally assaulted in the parking lot last year.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Brenna Blankenship alleges negligence and premises liability for what the suit calls a lack of security and lighting.
Two people, Seth Jones and Malakhi Scott Weathers-Parker, were arrested after the attack that sent three people to the hospital.
According to court documents, three people were going to eat at Malone's in the Paddock Shops when they yelled "say cheese" to a group of people having their photo taken in front of the restaurant Saturday, March 8, 2025.
According to an arrest report, Louisville police said the group, including Weathers-Parker and Jones, felt disrespected by the comment. The two men left to take someone home, but police said they allegedly returned to the parking lot, along with a juvenile, and appeared to look for the other diners. Police said the alleged attackers went through different restaurants to find them.
When the victims came out to their car, they were confronted by Weathers-Parker, Jones and the juvenile. That's when a fight ensued. One of the victims was beaten with their own metal baton, according to police. Another victim was put in a chokehold until they were unconscious.
One of the victims was knocked unconscious during the fight, suffered a concussion, skull fractures and a small brain bleed. Another victim suffered bruising and contusions to her leg, and a third victim suffered bruising and contusions all over his body.
Weathers-Parker, Jones and the juvenile left the scene, but police said the incident was seen by a witness and caught on surveillance cameras.
Blankenship is now suing the Paddock Shops and its operators, claiming the shopping center's "negligent security, inadequate lighting, and absence of surveillance cameras" enabled the attack. The suit also names Jones and Weathers-Parker.
"Brenna was tracked through this shopping center before she was ambushed in a dark parking lot," attorney David Barber said in a news release Thursday. "The Paddock Shops had no surveillance cameras covering the parking lots, inadequate lighting, and a security response slower than nearby restaurant employees and bystanders. This attack was foreseeable and preventable."
The lawsuit, filed March 7 in Jefferson Circuit Court, alleges the operators of the Paddock Shops "had prior knowledge of violent crimes on and around the premises and had received repeated warnings from tenants and patrons requesting security improvements."
It also claims that despite this knowledge, the defendants "failed to install parking lot surveillance cameras, maintain adequate lighting, ensure a visible security presence, or warn business invitees of the known risks."
The lawsuit also points out that while the Paddock Shops offered a security escort program for shoppers walking to their vehicles, "reflecting their awareness of the risks on the premises," there were no notices about the program posted anywhere near where the incident happened.
A news release announcing the lawsuit said Blankenship suffered serious head and face injuries that required surgery and ongoing medical treatment.
The operator of the shopping center has not yet responded to a request for comment.
This story may be updated.
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