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Another Bodyguard lawsuit attacks the industry.

According to an article on TMZ.com the bodyguards of Latin Singer Gloria Trevi have caused her to be smack in the middle of a 1 million dollar lawsuit.  Sources say that the claimant Elvis Navarro filed the suit in LA Superior Court, claiming, “he attended a Trevi concert on May 11th at Nokia Theater … and was assaulted, battered, pushed to the ground, and handcuffed by Gloria’s security team.”

It’s becoming sad that I am starting to not be surprised anymore as these hooligans continue to cause us damage.  This story is a direct hit at the industry.  Just the other day I spoke of the flat footed sleep walking bodyguards attached to Will Smith.  Although they didn’t damage the industry directly, their failure to act in any capacity lends credence to the internal strife we have with training, or the lack thereof.

Just when the conversation started to dwindle on the Smith “pimp slap” incident, we were immediately reminded of the thugs in the industry.  The sad part about all of this is that these are the stories that reach the news.  I personally know the gentleman whose jaw was broken by Allen Iverson’s bodyguards in Washington, DC.  That lawsuit was settled yet those same BG’s continue to work the circuit.  The question is this:  Can all of this be fixed?  In a perfect world, yes.  In our world, I am not so sure.  States like Virginia go after unlicensed individuals operating under the radar, however they are so short staffed that the response is stymied and the illicit behavior goes unabated.

I am in full support of the national certification, but will it stop this fly by night behavior?  No, unless we educate the client base.  Do not engage in any agreement [contractual or otherwise] with persons who are not certified, qualified or otherwise.  The sad part is that most of these incidents are promulgated in a specific market space.  If we are proactive it won’t take a 1 million dollar lawsuit to educate them about their choices and that there are trained professionals that are available to do the work professionally, ethically and effectively without the concerns of having to deal with vicarious liability.  I just wish there were more leaders vocal about this because whether you know it or not, your chosen way of living is being put in jeopardy.

6 comments

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  1. Kurt Jackson

    This is just a thought.
    Why not invite the few Insurance companies that cover activities like EP to a semi private meeting with other EP professionals and explain the difference between those who are and those who aren’t professionally trained.
    Establish what is professional conduct and training. Include that company and personnel backgrounds must be considered also.
    Educate these insurance companies first.
    Then the insurance company can let the security companies know that they have to meet certain standards or the security company won’t be covered for EP events and
    contracts.
    This doesn’t mean we let insurance companies tell us what or how we run our companies. But it will allow them to set some standards for those who do conduct
    EP in a professional matter.
    Just an idea.

    1. Eric Konohia

      Greet idea Kurt and my agent could actually teach everyone at the meeting where they are skating on proper coverage.
      The problem is that most of these guys are not insured and not licensed so the outcome of the meeting would fall upon the ears of specialists like you who aren’t putting your hands on people.

  2. Josh

    A big problem with our industry right now is the oversaturation of the profession by those with little or no training who will take any job they are offered. They often don’t take the time to research what they are getting themselves into or if they are prepared to handle the responsibility of true “protection work”, often leading to incidents like the one above. So, how do we change it? First, those of us willing to step up and lead from the front need to keep the message out there. Be mentors, be pro-active, and show those in need the RIGHT way to do things. Secondly, we must educate the client. I’ve seem it far too often, EP specialists will simply cave in to client demands in fear of losing work. If we don’t do our part to show clients the difference between those who “do” Executive Protection and those who “Are” Executive Protection, how will they know what is right? We have a duty to the profession we’ve chosen to take care of it. If not, incidents like this will keep happening and it will hurt us all.

  3. Mark Birmingham

    this is the typical aftermath for those who dont know the difference between a “Body Guard” and and an EP specialsit.

    A body guard is someone with a 20′ Neck, no brain and no training who is hired to get your dumb ass out of situation after it is too late

    An EP specialist is hired to keep you from getting your dumb ass in trouble in the first place.

  4. Mau Rami

    Where can I get insurance for a body guard in Maryland

    1. Eric Konohia

      You cannot get individual insurance for that

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