According to a $250,000 lawsuit filed by a Cochrane man, the plaintiff was attacked by a prospective professional hockey player. In addition, the victim has also filed suit against the venue where the incident took place, stating that the hotel staff sold alcohol to the defendant when he was already intoxicated. The man who allegedly punched the plaintiff is also facing aggravated assault charges in connection with the incident.
After the incident, the plaintiff was hospitalized with a fractured left orbital bone and a mild traumatic brain injury, according to the claim. The civil litigation process in this case may result in a jury trial if the defendant and plaintiff are unable to agree to a settlement outside of court.
The incident took place on July 29, 2012 outside a hotel bar in Cochrane. The plaintiff and a friend approached the defendant after reportedly seeing him push a woman. According to the suit, the defendant assaulted the pair, hitting the plaintiff in the back of the head and pushing his friend to the ground. The defendant and his girlfriend deny the allegations that he pushed her or the plaintiff’s friend.
When someone has been injured as the result of an assault or other reckless act, he or she may be entitled to compensation to pay for medical bills, emotional trauma and missed wages. If the defendant is a public figure, he or she may not want to face the publicity that may come with a civil court trial. In that case, it might be possible to settle out of court. On the other hand, if the two parties cannot agree on a settlement, the case may move forward to litigation.
Source: Calgary Sun, “Alleged sucker punch victim launches $250,000 lawsuit against Flames prospect Michael Ferland”, Kevin Martin, June 13, 2014
