Find a negligent security lawyer in Scottsdale: when a property answers for an attack

If you were attacked at a Scottsdale bar, hotel or apartment, the property may owe part of your losses. Arizona decides duty by relationship, not by how predictable the attack was. Scottsdale also requires certain nightlife businesses to keep a Public Safety Plan. You generally have 2 years to sue.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (30)

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Road map of Old Town Scottsdale showing the entertainment district near Camelback Road
Scottsdale bars with DJs or age checks must have a safety plan. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What does Scottsdale require of bars and clubs for security?

It has its own rule. Since 2013, Scottsdale has required certain businesses to file, follow and keep current a public safety plan. The rule reaches businesses that check age at the door, offer live entertainment or have a DJ. Security staff must complete mandatory training. Operating without a required plan is unlawful under city code 23-54.A.

That matters in a claim. A plan that was never filed or never followed is strong evidence of how seriously a business took safety. We could not find a public list of which businesses have approved plans. Arizona public records are open to inspection, so a written request to the city can ask for the plan on file.

The city also runs a Transportation Safety Zone in the Downtown entertainment district every day from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m., a sign of how busy those blocks get. A busy area does not make a bar liable by itself.

Can I sue a property in Scottsdale after I was attacked?

Possibly, but Arizona is its own kind of state on this. Courts do not use foreseeability to decide whether a duty exists. They look to special relationships or public policy. So the relationship between you and the property comes first.

WhereRelationship to look atProof to ask for
Bar or clubPaying customerPublic Safety Plan, training logs, door video
ApartmentLandlord must keep common areas clean and safeBroken locks, lights, past complaints
HotelGuest and innkeeperKey logs, security schedule, incident reports
City park or garagePublic ownerNotice of claim within 180 days

A lease cannot excuse a landlord from liability the law puts on it.

Will the attacker's share reduce what a Scottsdale property pays?

Usually yes, and you should expect that. The jury weighs everyone who contributed, even someone who was not sued. After that, every defendant owes only its own percentage. If you share some blame, your money goes down by that share, but the claim survives. A lawyer should explain plainly how those percentages could affect you before you spend money on experts.

What should you do in the first week after an attack in Scottsdale?

  1. Report it. The Scottsdale Police non-emergency line is 480-312-5000. Anonymous tips can go through P3 Tips.
  2. Note the police district. McKellips covers south of McDonald Road, Via Linda the center, and Foothills north of Cactus Road.
  3. Ask for your free copy of the report and body camera recording. Victims go to the front of the records line.
  4. Send the property a written request to save video. Name the camera area, date and hour.
  5. Save your receipts, your wristband, your medical records and the names of staff.
  6. Call Victim Services at 480-312-4226 for questions about your rights.

Is there money for crime victims in Scottsdale besides a lawsuit?

Yes. Arizona's victim compensation can help with medical costs, counseling, lost wages and funeral expenses. Applications are handled at each county attorney's office, and it pays only after other sources. If the attacker is convicted, a judge can order repayment as part of the sentence.

What should you ask a negligent security lawyer in Scottsdale?

  • What relationship would create a duty in my case?
  • Do you know how to obtain a business's Public Safety Plan?
  • How much of the fault do you expect a jury to put on the attacker?
  • If the property is public, who files before day 180?

Questions

How long do I have to sue after an attack at a Scottsdale bar?

Generally 2 years. A claim against a public property is due within 180 days.

Does every Scottsdale bar have to have security guards?

The rule is a Public Safety Plan, and it covers businesses with age checks, live entertainment or a DJ. We could not confirm a set guard count for all bars.

Can I get money if my attacker was never caught?

Arizona's victim compensation does not require an arrest or conviction.

Who handles a crime report in Scottsdale?

Scottsdale Police, at 480-312-5000 when it is not an emergency.

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Sources (30)

  1. Arizona Supreme Court, Quiroz v. ALCOA (2018), checked 2026-11-09. “foreseeability is not a factor in determining duty”
  2. Arizona Supreme Court, Quiroz v. ALCOA (2018), checked 2026-11-09. “duty is based on either special relationships recognized by the common law or relationships created by public policy”
  3. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “requiring certain types of businesses to file, follow and keep current a public safety plan”
  4. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  5. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “The ordinance applies to businesses that require age verification for admittance, provide live entertainment or a DJ.”
  6. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “one copy of the police report and on-body camera recording is available free of charge pursuant to ARS § 39-127”
  7. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “the compensation program is always the payer of last resort”
  8. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “claims are processed at the county level”
  9. A.R.S. 12-2506, checked 2026-11-09. “Each defendant is liable only for the amount of damages allocated to that defendant in direct proportion to that defendant's percentage of fault”
  10. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “The ordinance requires mandatory training for security personnel.”
  11. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “Scottsdale Revised Code 23-54.A makes it unlawful to operate without a Public Safety Plan if you are required to have one.”
  12. Arizona Revised Statutes 39-121, checked 2026-11-09. “Public records and other matters in the custody of any officer shall be open to inspection by any person at all times during office hours.”
  13. City of Scottsdale, Transportation Safety Zone, checked 2026-11-08. “The City Council created a Transportation Safety Zone in Scottsdale's Downtown entertainment district - east of Buckboard Trail, from Sixth Avenue to Camelback Road.”
  14. City of Scottsdale, Transportation Safety Zone Days and Times, checked 2026-11-08. “Shall be in effect Sunday thru Saturday between the hours of 5:00 PM and 4:00 AM.”
  15. A.R.S. 33-1324, checked 2026-11-09. “Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition.”
  16. A.R.S. 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  17. A.R.S. 33-1315, checked 2026-11-09. “Agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord arising under law”
  18. A.R.S. 12-2506, checked 2026-11-09. “the trier of fact shall consider the fault of all persons who contributed to the alleged injury”
  19. A.R.S. 12-2505, checked 2026-11-09. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion”
  20. City of Scottsdale, Electric Bikes, Scooters, checked 2026-11-08. “please call the police non-emergency line at 480-312-5000”
  21. Scottsdale Police, Submit a Crime Tip, checked 2026-11-08. “allows citizens to send anonymous tips online or by an iPhone or Android mobile app”
  22. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “McKellips District (South of McDonald Road) 7601 E. McKellips Road”
  23. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “Via Linda District (Central) 9065 E. Via Linda”
  24. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “Foothills District (North of Cactus Road) 20363 N. Pima Road”
  25. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “priority given to requests from victims and government entities”
  26. City of Scottsdale, checked 2026-11-09. “please contact Scottsdale Victim Services Division at 480-312-4226 and ask to speak with an advocate”
  27. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “Victim Compensation may help pay for out-of-pocket expenses including: medical costs, funeral expenses, mental health counseling, wage loss, transportation costs, and crime scene cleanup.”
  28. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “resides locally in each of Arizona's 15 county attorney's offices”
  29. Maricopa County Attorney's Office, checked 2026-11-09. “If you suffered a financial loss as a result of a crime, the defendant can be ordered to reimburse you as part of the sentence imposed by the Court.”
  30. A.R.S. 12-542, checked 2026-11-09. “there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues”

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