Steve Wood of the Bloomington law firm Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP was the lawyer representing plaintiff, Austin Schmeisser, in a trial in which a McLean County jury returned a verdict. The jury found in favor of Austin Schmeisser and against Defendant, Europe, Inc., which does business as Chasers Bar in Bloomington. The jury returned $18,350 in compensatory damages for the Plaintiff and further returned punitive damages in the amount of $200,000.00. The jury found Chasers guilty of negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, and battery against Austin Schmeisser.
Plaintiff was injured as a result of being taken into a stairwell and battered by Chasers’ bouncers while a patron of Chasers on January 27, 2012.
The three-day trial was held in McLean County Circuit Court in front of Judge Rebecca Foley. The jury deliberated for approximately five hours.