Tavern hosting charity kickball tournament and alleged attacker sued

A man claims he sustained a broken jaw while participating in a charity kickball tournament after a participant attacked him.

Timothy Duffin filed a lawsuit Sept. 20 in Madison County Circuit Court against Joseph C. Rakers doing business as Lenjo’s Tavern and Ronald G. Kuper.

In his complaint, Duffin claims he was attending a charity kickball tournament at Lenjo’s Tavern on Sept. 29, 2012, when Kuper struck him in the face. Before the attack on Duffin, Kuper had ingested alcoholic beverages, according to the complaint.

“Ronald G. Kuper struck plaintiff Timothy Duffin without cause and provocation,” the suit states.

Because of the attack, Duffin suffered severe injuries, including a broken jaw; sustained psychological and physical injuries; and endured disability, the suit states. Duffin also lost his normal life, suffered disfigurement, experienced pain and suffering and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Duffin says Lenjo’s is partially responsible for his injuries because the tavern negligently failed to protect him from injuries, failed to provide security for the event, failed to prevent Duffin from being attacked and failed to ensure that Kuper was removed from the premises.

In his complaint, Duffin seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Jeffrey S. Hebrank and Noel L. Smith of HeplerBroom in Edwardsville will be representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-1611.