Homeowners blamed for underage party, knocked out tooth

A St. Clair County man has filed suit against a couple who he says hosted a party and an underage party goer who allegedly knocked out the man's front tooth.

Christopher T. Holshouser claims he attended a party at defendants' Kenneth and Linda Murray's house on May 18, 2008, when the incident occurred.

According to the complaint filed April 27 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, defendant William Ernst, who was under the age of 21, was also at the party and consuming alcoholic beverages.

The complaint does not provide an address where the alleged incident took place.

"That at approximately 12:00 a.m. on May 18, 2008, the Plaintiff was a guest at said party, and at the time of the occurrence and prior to that time, he was conducting himself in an orderly, peacable and inoffensive manner," the suit states. "That William Ernst, being intoxicated and without any cause or provocation on the part of the Plaintiff, violently attacked, beat and struck Plaintiff, causing his front tooth, including the root, to be involuntarily removed by blunt force."

Because of the incident, Holshouser was hindered and prevented from attending to his usual duties and affairs, suffered great pain and anguish and incurred medcial costs, the complaint says.

In his two-count complaint, Holshouser is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus other relief the court deems just.

He will be represented by Francine M. Johnston of Nesbauer and AuBuchon in Fairview Heights.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-202.