An owner of Crehan's Irish Pub in Belleville is suing patrons who turned on him while he was breaking up their fight two years ago.
Barry Gregory alleges he was kicked in the head, buttock and hand and was struck in the nose, mouth, eye and back by Robert M. Barringer, Steve E. Barringer and Chad L. Rockwell on July 22, 2006.
In the lawsuit filed July 22 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Gregory claims he was breaking up a fight between the defendants and another patron, Jessie Baumer.
"That as the plaintiff was attempting to separate the combatants, the aforesaid defendants all turned upon the plaintiff," the complaint states.
He and his wife, Patti Gregory, who was also injured, are seeking in excess of $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.
They claim the attack was unprovoked, constituting battery and mob action.
The couple is represented by Stephen M. Kernan of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin of Belleville.
The Gregorys claim the defendants "may have mistakenly believed that they were justified in their use of force."
"Because the circumstances did not justify their use of force upon the plaintiff, the defendants were negligent in their mistaken belief that it did," the complaint states.
The Gregorys claim they had to seek medical care for their injuries.
Crehan's owners sue patrons for mob attack
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