Dupo bar sued over customer's 'propensity to cause altercations'

A man who claims two bar patrons attacked him seeks more than $300,000 from the patrons and the bar where the incident allegedly occurred.

Rodney Sumoski filed a lawsuit March 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Donald Goforth, Eddie's Bar, also known as McBride's Place, Reginald Allen and Rusty D. Kempf.

Sumoski claims he visited Eddie's Bar, an establishment located in Dupo, on May 23 when the attack occurred after Allen and Kempf allegedly became intoxicated.

"That Reginald Allen and Rusty D. Kempf's intoxication was at least one cause of the occurrence in question," the suit states.

Because of the incident, in which Allen and Kempf struck Sumoski in the head as he was seated, Sumoski sustained damage to his head and suffered great pain and mental anguish, according to the complaint.

In addition, he became emotionally and physically disabled, incurred medical costs and lost wages, the complaint says.

Sumoski partially blames Eddie's Bar for causing the incident, saying its owners negligently failed to warn Sumoski that he risked danger to his health by entering the bar, failed to exercise ordinary care, failed to prevent Allen from entering the bar when they knew of his propensity to cause altercations and failed to see that their guests were free from annoyance.

In his six-count complaint, Sumoski seeks a judgment of more than $300,000, plus costs.

Grey Chatham of Belleville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-119.