A man who was shot while visiting a Belleville bar has filed suit against the business.
Jared Hawkins was visiting Blackmon's on Dec. 25 when another man, who was intoxicated from beverages he received at the establishment, attacked and shot Hawkins shortly after 3 a.m., according to the complaint filed Jan. 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Because of the attack, Hawkins incurred medical bills, experienced severe injury, pain and permanent disfigurement and lost his enjoyment of life, the suit states.
The owner of the business, Johnnie Blackmon, owned other nightclubs in the area and should have known of other instances of violence in the area, Hawkins alleges.
However, Blackmon negligently failed to provide adequate security personnel, violated several municipal ordinances regarding safety personnel, failed to properly train its security staff and failed to provide reasonable security by allowing a patron to bring a gun through metal detectors, according to the complaint.
In the two-count suit, Hawkins is seeking a judgment in excess of $100,000, plus costs.
Jared P. Beasley of The Kuehn Law Firm in Belleville will be representing him.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0035.
Man shot at Belleville bar sues
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