(Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the plaintiff is male and the lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court, not Madison County Circuit Court. The Record apologizes for these mistakes.)
BELLEVILLE - A man is suing a night club for allegedly allowing patrons to become intoxicated and attack him.
Tracy Whitt filed a lawsuit on Jan. 11 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against De Beno Nite Club, alleging negligence and dram shop.
According to the lawsuit, the De Beno Nite Club sold or gave alcoholic beverages to Keith Ross and Erlist Johnson on Dec. 7, which were consumed while on the premises. Whitt was inside of the premises when he was allegedly attacked by Ross and Johnson as a result of their intoxication levels.
Whitt claims the defendant failed to keep security personnel on the premises to prevent criminal actions, failed to remove intoxicated persons from its premises, failed to protect him from criminal activities and failed to establish a procedure to maintain the safety of its patrons.
Whitt claims he was caused to suffer severe and permanent injuries, disability, disfigurement, large sums of monies for hospital and medical care, pain and suffering and mental anguish.
Whitt seeks an amount in excess of $50,000. He is represented by John Hipskind of Hipskind and McAninch in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22-LA-0019