Alexander County bar attack is subject of St. Clair County suit

A Clinton County man wants to be paid more than $200,000 after allegedly being hit by a bottle during a bar fight in the village of McClure, located in Alexander County.

Timothy Stempel filed a lawsuit against Zachary Lee Aldrich, Hush Puppy Bar & Grill and its owner, Dana Weber Dec. 20 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. Owners of The Pony, Charles Westlund and S.J.C. Illinois LLC, are also named as defendants.

According to the complaint, Aldrich was drinking at both The Pony and Hush Puppy Bar & Grill in McClure one night in December 2009. During the evening Aldrich allegedly consumed more than 15 beers between the two establishments.

At about 3:30 a.m. the Sikeston, Mo. man allegedly left Hush Puppy Bar & Grill extremely intoxicated. In the parking lot, Stempel says he was hit by Aldrich several times in the face with a beer bottle.

Stempel is suing Aldrich on battery claims. He is also accusing The Pony and Hush Puppy of negligence and violations of llinois' Liquor Control Act for allegedly serving an already-intoxicated customer.

Stempel is asking for more than $200,000 in damages to compensate for medical expenses, lost income and court costs. He is represented by attorney Michael L. McGlynn, of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case no. 10-L-660