Ky. couple sues former Huntington bar, bouncer for injuries

HUNTINGTON - A Kentucky couple has filed a suit against a former Huntington nightclub after the man was seriously injured in an altercation with a bouncer.

Timothy and Amber Hutchinson, of Ashland, Ky., filed a suit June 11 in Cabell Circuit Court against Banana Joe's Island Party and Stacy McCoy, a bouncer at the club.

According to the lawsuit, Timothy Hutchinson was severely injured when McCoy hit him outside of the nightclub in 2005.

The suit says Hutchinson entered Banana Joe's on June 11, 2005, and was asked to remove a shirt he was wearing and turn his backward hat around to the front. Hutchinson says he complied, and then after he entered, turned his hat back around.

"The bouncers, after noticing what he had done ... removed him from the bar," the suit claims. "The bouncers threw Mr. Hutchinson out of the front door and onto the sidewalk and began taunting and harassing him."

According to the suit, Hutchinson asked for his shirt, and one of the bouncers threw it on the ground in front of him. When he went to pick it up, McCoy "ran up to Mr. Hutchinson and punched him in the face," the suit says.

Hutchinson fell back and smashed his head on the sidewalk and curb, which made him unconscious.

According to the suit, Hutchinson's head began bleeding and he aspirated, while neither McCoy nor any of the other bouncers called for medical help.

Hutchinson sustained serious injuries to his head, a collapsed right lung, multiple lacerations, permanent disfigurement and scarring and serious trauma. He also suffered from medical expenses, lost wages and a diminished ability to enjoy life.

In the six-count suit, Amber Hutchinson also claims she has lost the consortium, society, companionship and services of her husband, and seeks compensation for her loss. Timothy Hutchinson seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

The suit also names Joel Field, Richard Widdifield, Allied Realty, Co., Lake Polan, III, Saddle Ridge Rock-N-Country Saloon, Eric Schilder and several John Does as defendants.

Attorney Lynn Albers is representing the Hutchinsons. The case has been assigned to Judge John Cummings.

Cabell Circuit Court case number 07-C-562