Hollywood Showclub patron claims guards beat him

Cottage Hills resident Jesse Sneed is suing the owner of Hollywood Showclub in Washington Park for being beaten, kicked and punched while guards escorted him from the strip club on Nov. 6, 2004.

Seeking in excess of $200,000 in damages, Sneed claims he suffered soft tissue injuries and abrasions to his face, neck, scalp, abdomen and chest. He also claims severe injuries to his eye, back and right knee.

The four-count suit filed Nov. 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court seeks damages from Showclub International on allegations of battery, negligent hiring, negligent retention and negligent supervision.

"Defendant...knew or through the exercise of reasonable and ordinary care should have known at the time of hiring the guard that assaulted plaintiff, that he had a propensity to use excessive force, was unqualified to work as a security guard due to his aggressive behavior towards others and that the guard constituted a serious threat of harm to customers of Defendant, including Plaintiff, with whom Defendant's guard might come into contact," the complaint states.

Sbeed is represented by Joseph M.Taylor of Taylor & Taylor in St. Louis.

"Defendant...negligently failed to stop the guard while he was beating Plaintiff, even though Defendant's employees were in the immediate vicinity of the assault of Plaintiff and would have been able to stop the assault," the complaint states.