Attack victim at underage drinking party sues parent

A 19-year-old St. Clair County man who was badly beaten at a party where underage drinking was taking place, is suing the parent of a minor who hosted it.

Kyle A. Green claims head, face, ribs and torso injuries after being attacked Oct. 15, 2004, at Bridget K. Rowe's Belleville residence. Her mother, Shawna Rowe, owns the property at 1535 North Church and is a defendant in the lawsuit filed Oct. 10 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Represented by James M. Martin and Heidi L. Leopold of Martin, Malec & Leopold in St. Louis, Green is seeking $50,000 from Rowe and his assailants, Arthur Sargent of Belleville, Terrence Sayles of O'Fallon and Will Jones, address unknown.

According to the suit, Shawna Rowe "negligently entrusted alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21, and also failed to supervise the activities of the minors consuming alcoholic beverages, and further, carelessly and negligently neglected to protect the invitees to the party from physical harm or damage from other persons on the premises."

Green claims he sustained a concussion and substantial head injuries, as well as cuts and bruises to his mouth, lips and face, and chipped teeth.

"Plaintiff was rendered unconscious and disoriented for some period of time, and since the date of his injuries has suffered from substantial depression and anxiety," the complaint states.

Green alleges Shawna Rowe permitted the "continuous consumption of alcoholic beverages under the age of 21, when said guests were already showing the effects of intoxication, and failed to provide some reasonable measure of protection for the party attendees from physical harm by persons on the premises, when Defendant knew or should have known that the presence of intoxicants in large groups of young people would likely produce said conduct."

He claims his attackers "jointly and in conjunction with at least five to ten other parties, assaulted and beat Plaintiff by mob action, causing substantial permanent injuries."