For anyone familiar with Lifetime's Dance Moms, Abby Lee Miller is probably a household name. In the past, her fame was at least partially due to her teaching tactics, but now there is a new reason for her notoriety. Abby Lee Miller is being sued by one of her students.
The student, a 13-year-old girl who has been taking dance lessons at Abby Lee Dance Company for four years, is accusing Ms. Miller of emotional abuse. According to a brief filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, the girl claims Ms. Miller "intentionally engaged in conduct that caused plaintiff to reasonably believe that she was about to be touched or harmed in an offensive manner." Furthermore, because she had allegedly seen Ms. Miller push another individual by the face and pinch and grab other students, she claims to have had to undergo psychiatric treatment for mental abuse.
Whatever one may think about Ms. Miller's teaching practices, or the validity of the lawsuit which the student filed, there is an important lesson for everyone to be derived from the above situation. Any commercial business can be sued for damages based on what a client perceives as an injury or fault.
So what should a commercial business owner do?
The most practical solution is to purchase commercial general liability insurance. This coverage can pay for defense costs in case of lawsuits, regardless of fault. It can also cover the costs of damages if the court rules in the victim's favor, and/or settlement costs to avoid a legal trial altogether.
Due to her fame and the fact that her dance studio is featured on a major cable network, Ms. Miller probably has enough funds to cover her own defense. However, few owners of commercial businesses are likely to have the same resources as Ms. Miller does to combat a lawsuit.
Whether you own a dance studio, a cleaning service or a counseling practice, commercial general liability insurance can help you out in a pinch. For more information on the right insurance for your business, contact us.
We’ve got you covered. Call Buschbach Insurance Agency at (708) 423-2350 for more information on Oak Lawn business insurance.