MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew is being sued in Florida, accused of punching a bouncer at a St. Augustine restaurant.
The suit was electronically filed May 30 in St. Johns County.
Bouncer Kasim Howard is suing Jones-Drew, saying the former Jacksonville Jaguars star punched him May 26, 2013, at the Conch House Restaurant.
Howard accuses Jones-Drew of intentionally causing injury and severe emotional distress. Howard is seeking a judgment for injury resulting in “pain and suffering, loss of capacity of for enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical expenses (past and future), inability to perform his work as a professional boxer, mental and emotional pain, humiliation, inconvenience, lost wages, legal expenses and other general and specific damages.”
The State Attorney’s Office reviewed a criminal complaint and decided not to charge Jones-Drew last summer.
“The State Attorney shut this down after reviewing everything,” said MJD’s attorney, Hank Coxe. “We haven’t heard anything in ages and then we get a lawsuit after he moves to Oakland? We will deal with this in the judicial system as we have everything else.”
According to the lawsuit, Kasim attempted to use a “bear hug” to physically remove an intoxicated patron from the restaurant on Memorial Day. Jones-Drew, who was in a group with the patron, allegedly tried to intervene. Kasim told Jones-Drew he was escorting the patron out. Jones-Drew appeared to walk away, according to the suit, but then blind-sided Kasim with a punch to the left jaw.
Another security guard grabbed Jones-Drew, the suit said, and he left the restaurant.
Kasim says he was treated at Flagler Hospital for “injuries suffered during the attack, including contusions, loss of consciousness, a concussion and a herniated disc of the spine.”
Kasim is requesting a jury trial and an award of punitive and compensatory damages.
___
Online:
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
