A Franklin County jury has ruled in favor of the family of Gregory Coleman Jr., awarding them $27 million following his death after an altercation outside a Short North bar in Columbus, Ohio. Coleman, 37, died on September 18, 2022, after being in a coma for two weeks due to injuries sustained in the incident.
Ed Hastie, the family’s legal representative, expressed the significance of the verdict, stating it reflects a pursuit of justice. The Coleman family initiated a lawsuit in 2023, targeting the ownership group of the Julep bar, known as I Love High LLC, as well as two individuals, Dwayne Cummings and Chrystian Foster. Both men have been convicted of murder and are currently serving life sentences for their roles in Coleman’s death.
According to Hastie, the jury attributed 80% of the responsibility for the incident to the bar’s ownership, with Cummings and Foster each deemed responsible for 10%. The lawsuit details that Coleman was obtaining food from a nearby stand when Foster approached him, demanding he leave the sidewalk. Video evidence presented during the trial indicated that after a brief exchange, Cummings left his post as a security officer and unexpectedly struck Coleman, causing him to fall and suffer a severe cranial injury.
The complaint further alleges that while Coleman was incapacitated on the ground, Cummings and Foster continued to assault him violently. Hastie remarked that the judicial process consistently validated the family’s claims throughout the trial.
The jury delivered their verdict late Thursday afternoon, following the trial’s commencement the previous week. Efforts to reach Craig Pelini, the attorney representing I Love High, for a comment have been unsuccessful.
This case highlights the broader issues of safety and accountability in nightlife establishments, raising critical questions about their responsibility in protecting patrons. As the Coleman family seeks healing from this tragic event, the substantial jury award underscores the legal responsibilities that bars and nightclubs hold towards their customers.
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