Man claims he was knocked out at Banana Joe's

CHARLESTON - A man claiming he was knocked unconscious at Banana Joe's Island Party on St. Patrick's Day and is suing the nightclub.

Martin Van Holstein Jr. filed a lawsuit against Charleston Entertainment, doing business as Banana Joe's, May 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

He also lists John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 as defendants until he can discover the identity of the persons he says assaulted him.

Van Holstein is represented by Stephen E. Hastings and says he entered Banana Joe's, located on Capitol Street in Charleston, March 17.

In the early morning hours of March 18, he says, "Employees, agents and/or servants of Defendants ... grabbed and detained Plaintiff.

"While grabbing and detaining Plaintiff Holstein, employees, agents and/or servants of Defendant ... choked and rendered the plaintiff unconscious."

Van Holstein says he sustained severe and irreparable harm and injury, "including, but not limited to, fear, embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, shock, horror, annoyance and inconvenience, anger, chagrin, disappointment, worry, nausea, emotional pain and suffering, physical injury, emotional distress, psychological trauma, the loss of the ability to enjoy life and other severe and irreparable harm and damages."

Van Holstein is seeking compensatory, general and punitive damages.

Judge Louis Bloom has been assigned the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-895