An Alton bar denies liability in the wrongful death lawsuit against the Wood River twins who allegedly fatally beat a man in the bar’s parking lot.
Zachary Allan Gleason, as administrator of the estate of Johnny Allan Gleason, and Kylie Jean Gleason filed a complaint on June 20 against Van Lenhardt Inc., doing business as Mac’s Time Out Lounge, and twins Aaron M. Hosford and Adam M. Hosford.
According to the complaint, Johnny Gleason, 43, of South Roxana, was visiting Mac’s Time Out Lounge located on Fourth Street in downtown Alton for a boxing match on May 2 and 3 when he was allegedly beaten in the parking lot by the defendants.
The decedent died as a result of his injuries on June 6 at a hospital in Springfield, Ill.
The plaintiffs accuse the bar of allowing a crowd to form for a violent spectator sport and failing to have security personnel on hand, failing to provide a safe premises, failing to prepare a security plan, failing to organize a security force, failing to screen out potentially violent patrons at the door and failing to cater to a safer clientele.
The plaintiffs claim the defendant also “quickened the crowd’s ability to get alcohol by setting up a mobile bar, but failed to provide security measures to control a highly intoxicated crowd,” the suit states.
The Hosfords, 24, are accused of causing the injuries that allegedly led to Johnny Gleason’s death.
Mac’s Time Out Lounge answered the complaint on Aug. 24 through attorney Stephen Moore of Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith in St. Louis, denying the allegations against it.
In its affirmative defenses, the defendant argues that the plaintiff’s alleged damages were caused by a third party “over whom this defendant had no control or legal responsibility.”
The plaintiffs seek damages of more than $700,000, plus costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Jane Unsell of Unsell, Schattnik and Phillips PC in Wood River.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-820