Serving Plaintiff & Defense Attorneys Nationwide
(702) 696-8745Expert Witness Services
With 35+ years managing security operations at bars, nightclubs, hotels, and entertainment venues — and an ASIS security certification — Ryan Dahlstrom provides authoritative opinions on venue security standards of care for plaintiff and defense attorneys nationwide.
ASIS
Certified Security Professional
35+
Years Venue Operations
50+
States — Nationwide
P & D
Plaintiff & Defense
Negligent security is a premises liability theory that holds property owners and operators — including bars, nightclubs, hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues — responsible for injuries caused by third-party criminal acts when the owner knew or should have known of the risk and failed to take reasonable precautions. These cases arise from assaults, batteries, shootings, stabbings, sexual assaults, and other violent incidents that occur on or near the premises.
The central question in a negligent security case is whether the venue's security measures were reasonable under the circumstances — a question that requires an expert who understands what reasonable security actually looks like in a hospitality environment. How many security personnel should a venue of this size and type employ on a Friday night? What training should they have? What protocols should govern patron removal? When should law enforcement be called?
Ryan Dahlstrom has personally managed security operations at high-volume nightclubs, bars, and entertainment venues throughout his career. He holds an ASIS security certification and has developed security policies and training programs for venues across the country. His opinions are grounded in the day-to-day operational realities of venue security — not just theoretical standards.
Whether the venue's security staffing levels met the applicable standard of care for the type and size of the establishment
Whether security personnel were adequately trained in crowd management, patron removal, and use-of-force protocols
Whether the venue's security policies and procedures were appropriate and consistently enforced
Whether the establishment had notice of prior violent incidents or criminal activity on or near the premises
Whether the physical security measures — lighting, cameras, access control, and layout — were adequate
Whether the interaction between alcohol service and security operations created a foreseeable risk
Whether management's response to escalating situations met industry standards
Whether the incident was foreseeable given the venue's history, location, and patron demographics
Review of security staffing records, schedules, and incident logs
Evaluation of security personnel training certifications and documented procedures
Analysis of surveillance footage for crowd dynamics, security response, and incident timeline
Assessment of physical security infrastructure — lighting, cameras, entry/exit points
Review of prior incident reports, police call logs, and management response history
Correlation of alcohol service records with the security incident timeline
Comprehensive written expert report suitable for Rule 26 disclosure
Deposition and trial testimony available in any jurisdiction
Holds the ASIS security certification — the gold standard for security professionals. Opinions are grounded in recognized security industry standards.
Experienced at analyzing surveillance footage to reconstruct incident timelines, assess security response, and evaluate crowd dynamics.
Has personally developed security policies and training programs for high-volume venues. Knows what reasonable policies look like in practice.
Works for both sides. Has opined that security was adequate and that it was deficient — always based on the facts.
Opinions are grounded in ASIS standards, industry best practices, and documented operational experience — built to withstand Daubert challenges.
Available for case review, site inspection, deposition, and trial testimony in all 50 states.
Ready to Retain?
Contact Ryan today for a confidential case evaluation. He works with plaintiff and defense attorneys across all 50 states.