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New York Post
Woman attacked in NYC Whole Foods sues store for not keeping shoppers safe
By Deirdre Bardolf,
2024-05-11
A woman bashed in the head with a glass bottle while shopping at Whole Foods claims in a lawsuit that the Midtown store failed to keep its customers safe.
Cassidy Arkin, 49, was grocery shopping at the Sixth Avenue supermarket in October when she was blindsided by a rampaging maniac , authorities said.
Michael Howell, 33, allegedly attacked a 24-year-old man outside the store with a glass bottle, then went into the shop, got another bottle and slammed Arkin with it in front of a food counter.
The October attack left Arkin struggling physically and mentally, according to the suit. William C Lopez/New York Post
Whole Foods failed to provide adequate at the time of the assault, Arkin charges in the lawsuit. GC Images
He then fled into a nearby subway, rode the train one stop to Rockefeller Center and rocked a 55-year-old passenger there with yet another bottle, authorities said.
Arkin suffered a severed earlobe and staples in her scalp, and was pulling shards of glass out of her body.
Whole Foods failed to properly hire, supervise and train employees tasked with protecting shoppers, she contended in a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The Harlem-based producer and director, who is seeking unspecified damages, said she suffers from permanent physical injuries and mental anguish following the attack.
A 24-year-old man outside Whole Foods was attacked first, followed by Cassidy Arkin, 49, and then a 55-year-old woman on the subway. William C Lopez/New York Post
Before the October attacks, Michael Howell was arrested for a string of thefts and another assault in August, The Post reported. James Messerschmidt for NY Post
Howell, an eight-time offender, is locked up on Rikers Island on assault charges.
The criminal case is pending.
Arkin and her lawyer declined to comment.
Whole Foods did not respond to a message seeking comment.
For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/
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