Knockers owner moves to dismiss battery suit

The owner of Knockers Bar and Grill is asking Madison County Circuit Judge Andreas Matoesian to dismiss a suit brought by a man who claims he was attacked and injured while at the bar.

Gary Lutman, Knockers' owner, filed his motion to dismiss the complaint May 18 contending that it was served too late and that the statute of limitations on the service of the suit had expired.

Plaintiff Steven Skoklo denies Lutman's arguments in his own May 31 response to the motion to dismiss.

Skoklo is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 per count and other relief.

He is suing Lutman's bar and National Laundry Equipment Corporation, the owners of the bar's location along with Paul Qualls.

Skoklo claims he was struck multiple times when a fight broke out at the bar in 2007.

National Laundry tried unsuccessfully to gain summary judgment in the case.

Lutman has been involved in a number of lawsuits including an on-going dispute with his former attorney, John Walter Leskera of Collinsville.

Morgan Scroggins represents the plaintiff.

Gerald Sims represents National Laundry.

Ralph Derango represents Lutman and the bar.

No attorney is listed as yet for Qualls.

The case is Madison case number 09-L-1119.