Erica Williams, who was hit by a car as she ran away from the gunfire, and Delvin Eldridge, who was hit by an errant shotgun blast, are suing the party's organizer, the shooter, the county and the volunteers for a total of $7 million.

They claim Temika Young, the organizer, didn't provide adequate security for her guests Sept. 10, 2005, and that Terrance Carlester Medley, the shooter, was reckless when he started firing a shotgun into a crowd of people. They also claim the county and volunteer fire company "had a duty to keep their premises safe and secure."

"(They) breached that duty when they rented their premises to Defendant, Temika Young, when they failed to investigate the purpose and extent of said party," states the lawsuit, which was filed last week in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Ms. Williams, 22, of Annapolis and Mr. Eldridge, of Baltimore, said fire department staff turned off the building's lights after the shooting and attempted to block the exits, "which resulted in additional panic for the party guests."

Alan Hilliard Legum, an attorney representing Ms. Williams and Mr. Eldridge, declined to comment.

Robert L. Rose, president of the Odenton Volunteers, also declined to talk about he lawsuit.

County Attorney Jonathan Hodgson could not be reached for comment.

Medley, who was shot in the chest by guards or other people returning fire, was convicted of attempted second-degree murder. A judge sentenced him on June 26, 2006, to 30 years in prison, but ordered him to serve only 18 years behind bars.

Medley had a blood-alcohol content of 0.28 percent when he was taken to the hospital - three and a half times the legal limit to drive in Maryland.

Assistant State's Attorney Frederick Paone said in 2006 that security kicked Medley out of the party about 11 p.m. for being disruptive and repeatedly going in and out.

Medley then went to his car, got a shotgun and started shooting toward a crowd standing in front of the door.

"This was like something out of the Wild West," Mr. Paone said.

In addition to Mr. Eldridge, Medley shot one of the security guards, Eric Cleveland of Takoma Park, and a second guest, Sharda Smith of Annapolis.

Ms. Williams ran into the street in front of the fire house and was hit by a passing car.

Medley, a father of four, jumped into another car and drove away, but he didn't get far. He passed out and crashed into a utility pole about a mile from the fire department at Telegraph Road and Pine Avenue.

Richard A. Simmons, Medley's attorney, said in 2006 Medley and Mr. Eldridge were friends. He said at the time Mr. Eldridge didn't believe Medley tried to hurt him and thought someone else shot him.

The shooting was just one of several problems to arise at the banquet hall in 2005. According to an April 5, 2005, letter from the board to the fire company, the board almost stopped issuing the one-day licenses to events being held there. The letter noted a stabbing on March 12, 2005, a fight on March 27, 2005, and a policy of signing blank license applications without any knowledge of who was hosting the party.

Representatives from the board met with the fire company shortly after the letter was sent. They discussed how to fill out the paperwork and screen party hosts, Mr. Rose said at the time.

Security troubles

Three of Mrs. Young's private security guards were charged with various weapon and drug charges after the shooting.

Edward Lee Weary, 38, of Upper Marlboro, pleaded guilty to illegally carrying a handgun that night. He was sentenced to a weekend in jail.

James M. Marshall of Suitland pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana. A judge sentenced him to one year in jail, but suspended all but one day he had already served.

Police also charged Edward W. Coles Jr. of Oxon Hill with possession of a concealed deadly weapon, but prosecutors placed the charges on an inactive docket.

The lawsuit seeks $1 million from Mrs. Young, $4 million from Medley, $1 million from the county and $1 million from the volunteers.

This is the second lawsuit to name the Odenton volunteers this year. Two former volunteers filed a lawsuit against the county in January claiming they were molested by a now-dead company president while they were teenagers and that their superiors ignored pleas for help.