Blinded by beer bottle, guard sues over incident at 'DJ Oatmeal' event

A man claims he lost his eyesight in his left eye after being struck in the face with a beer bottle.

Keith L. Jones filed a lawsuit May 2 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Eric Galloway, Joseph Bryant, Galloway Enterprises, Broadway Entertainment Ventures, Plaza Banquet
Center's Inc., Metro Investment Group and Regions Morgan Keegan Trust.

In his complaint, Jones claims he worked as a security guard when the incident occurred on May 3, 2009, in the parking lots of Broadway Entertainment Ventures and Plaza Banquet Center in St. Louis.

"On that evening there were several hundred patrons in the club for an event with an entertainer known as 'DJ Oatmeal,'" the suit states. "A fight or altercation occurred between different patrons, and while attempting to deal with the patrons, an unknown patron threw a bottle that hit the plaintiff in the face."

Because of the incident, Jones lost eyesight in his left eye, suffers from impaired eyesight in his right eye and sustained a fractured nose, the complaint says. In addition, he claims he incurred extensive medical costs, experienced pain, suffering, disability and disfigurement and lost wages.

The defendants, who Jones worked for, have refused to provide him with workers' compensation benefits, according to the complaint.

In his suit, Jones blames the defendants for causing his injuries, saying they negligently failed to provide Jones a safe place to work, failed to inspect the event for security needs, directed Jones to work in a place of known danger and failed to provide Jones with adequate warnings. In addition, the defendants negligently failed to provide Jones with sufficient assistance, according to the complaint.

In his two-count complaint, Jones seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

This marks the second lawsuit Jones filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

On April 25, he filed suit in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the doctor and medical facilities that treated the wounds he sustained during the attack, saying their negligence caused him to lose and suffer from diminished eyesight.

In his April 25 complaint, Jones will be represented by John S. Wallach and Suzanne M. Hardin of the Law Offices of John S. Wallach in St. Louis.

In his current complaint, Jones will be appearing pro se.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-219.