Serving Plaintiff & Defense Attorneys Nationwide
(702) 696-8745Expert Witness Services
Ryan Dahlstrom draws on 35+ years in bar, nightclub, hotel, and entertainment venue operations, including responsibility for venue security, and is a member of ASIS International. He evaluates security staffing, training, and incident response against industry standards for plaintiff and defense attorneys nationwide.
ASIS
International Member
35+
Years Venue Operations
All 50
States Available
Both
Plaintiff and 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 is a member of ASIS International and has developed security policies and training programs for venues across the country. His opinions are grounded in the day-to-day operation of venue security.
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 venue's prior incident history, location, and operating conditions indicated security risks that industry practice would address
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
Member of ASIS International, the leading professional organization for security management. 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.
Learn More
An in-depth guide to negligent security claims, the expert's role, and what qualifications matter most.
Ready to Retain?
Contact Ryan today for a confidential case evaluation. He works with plaintiff and defense attorneys across all 50 states.