An 82-year-old Army veteran has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against Encore Boston Harbor casino, the Everett Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and several unnamed officers, claiming metal implants in his leg set off a security detector and led to his unlawful detention on May 30.
Robert M. Joost filed the complaint Wednesday in Massachusetts federal court. He is seeking $250,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages from each defendant, along with a jury trial, according to the filing.
The case is a reminder that casino security protocols, designed to keep weapons off gaming floors, can sweep up patrons who pose no threat. For the millions of Americans who visit commercial casinos each year, the complaint raises questions about how far a property can go before a routine screening becomes a constitutional violation.
