Ohio man sues after being beaten with baseball bat

WINFIELD – An Ohio man has filed a civil lawsuit against a Scott Depot man who he says beat him with a baseball bat.

Joshua Ryan Kropka filed the lawsuit May 23 in Putnam Circuit Court against Brandon W. Sanders.

Kropka, who formerly lived in Mason County, says he was visiting a friend in Scott Depot on May 25, 2004, when Sanders "unlawfully, wantonly, willfully, maliciously, intentionally, violently, feloniously and without permission, just cause or provocation assaulted and battered Kropka by striking him in the jaw with a baseball bat, breaking his jaw and shattering several teeth," the complaint says.

In the complaint, filed by attorney Robert M. Losey, Kropka says he sustained serious injury to his head, back, neck, jaw and teeth. He says he also suffered extreme and severe mental anguish, emotional upset, depression and physical pain as well as permanent scarring and injury.

In addition, he says he has had substantial medical treatment and medical bills and will require more in the future. Kropka says he has been unable to attend to his usual business, occupation and schooling. Also, he has endured pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional upset, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages and a reduction of earning capacity, all of which he says will continue in future.

Kropka seeks compensation of past, present and future damages as well as punitive damages "to punish the defendant for his wrongdoing" because Sanders' conduct was "committed intentionally with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill" the plaintiff.
In addition, Kropka seeks interest, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.

He requests a jury trial. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski.

Putnam Circuit Court case number: 06-C-168