In a harrowing incident that has brought legal action, two individuals allege they were violently assaulted by security personnel outside a popular San Francisco nightclub. On January 28, 2025, Alex Mayers and Jucilio Rocha filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco against Zen Compound, LLC, doing business as Temple Nightclub, and its owner Paul Hemming. The plaintiffs claim they suffered severe injuries at the hands of nightclub security staff.
The case centers around an altercation that occurred on the night of May 12, 2023. According to the complaint, Mayers and Rocha visited Temple Nightclub with friends and spent over $10,000 on VIP services. After leaving the club in the early hours of May 13th, they were confronted by bouncers while ordering food from street vendors nearby. The lawsuit details how a derogatory comment made by one of the bouncers towards a woman in their group escalated into violence. Without provocation, security personnel allegedly attacked Kenneth Oyewole, a friend of Mayers', before turning on Mayers himself and Rocha. Both plaintiffs lost consciousness due to the assaults.
Mayers sustained significant injuries including brain bleeding, a concussion, and facial fractures leading to ongoing emotional distress characterized by PTSD symptoms. Rocha also suffered physical harm such as cuts and bruises requiring immediate medical attention. The complaint accuses Zen Compound and its owner of premises liability under California Civil Code §1714(a), asserting they failed to maintain a safe environment for patrons by inadequately training their security staff.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for medical expenses and lost wages due to time off work necessitated by their injuries. They also demand punitive damages against Zen Compound for what they describe as negligent hiring practices that allowed unqualified individuals with violent tendencies to be employed as security guards. Furthermore, they accuse the defendants of general negligence for not addressing prior complaints about aggressive behavior from their staff.
Mayers and Rocha's legal team includes attorneys Ben Nisenbaum and Christopher A. Dean from Burris, Nisenbaum, Curry & Lacy LLP. The case is presided over by judges at the Superior Court of California under Case ID CGC-25-621874.