Brooklyn Hotel's Security Busted Protestor's Collarbone, Lawsuit Says

BROOKLYN, NY— In September 2024, a meeting of corporate executives and public officials, from JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge ended in a broken collarbone for a protestor.

Roni Zahavi-Brunner, of Brooklyn, who walked onto the conference’s stage with fellow climate activists to protest corporations' use of fossil fuels.

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Zahavi-Brunner filed suit in Kings County Supreme Court against Muss Development LLC and Brooklyn Renaissance Hotel III LLC, alleging security personnel violently ejected her from the conference on Sept. 11, 2024.

The 25 year old seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other personal injury losses.

Muss Development LLC and Brooklyn Renaissance Hotel III LLC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the complaint, a security guard pinned Zahavi-Brunner against the door for several seconds, causing a displaced fracture of her clavicle.

Medical records show she later underwent surgery to repair the fracture with a plate and seven screws before having the hardware removed months later because of continued pain.

David Loines, the security guard involved in removing Zahavi-Brunner from the conference, testified that he had worked fewer than 12 security events in his lifetime, had never worked in law enforcement and had only completed online security courses without receiving a formal certification.

In a recent deposition obtained by Patch, Loines said he traveled from Maryland after being hired by Ralph McKeython, a longtime friend he met while attending Howard University.

He said his assignment was to check badges and ensure only registered attendees entered the event, which he expected would draw 300 to 400 people, including “high-level VIPs.”

After hearing shouting from outside the ballroom, he entered and saw protesters onstage.

"I saw several people on the stage yelling and they had props in their hands and just making loud gestures," Loines testified.

Loines testified he did not push Zahavi-Brunner into the exit door.

Instead, he said he was pulling another protester toward the exit before pushing him near the doorway.

"I pushed him and he bumped into her," Loines testified. "She missed the safety bar...and I guess she bounced against the safety bar and the door opened."

During questioning, Loines said he viewed anyone inside the conference without authorization as a potential threat.

"We thought that everyone that was not there lawfully was a threat since they had items and props and backpacks," he testified.

Although he acknowledged he never saw a weapon, he said security could not know whether protesters were armed.

"They could have a knife, firearm. You have no idea," he said.

Asked whether he would use the same approach with a 7-year-old child, Loines answered that he would ask the child to leave and "show them the door"

"The same way I did those two," he said.

Zahavi-Brunner's attorney, Matt Haicken, said the lawsuit does not challenge security's authority to remove protesters.

"They had a right to ask her to leave," Haicken told Patch. "But the way they did it was inappropriate, excessive and unnecessary."

The defendants deny liability and continue to contest the allegations.

Former Comptroller Brad Lander, who was speaking when the protest occurred, wrote Zahavi-Brunner expressing sympathy for her injury while noting the guards did not work for his office, the city or the NYPD.

"I believe there is generally a way to peacefully de-escalate a situation like that without causing harm," Lander wrote.

The case remains pending in Kings County Supreme Court.