Man attacked with glass bottle files assault and battery lawsuit

The victim of an alleged beer bottle attack is suing his attacker in state court.

Attorney Alan E. Denenberg, of the firm Abramson & Denenberg, P.C., filed an assault and battery civil complaint June 20 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Philadelphia resident Robert Venango.

According to the complaint, Venango was exiting a vehicle near Teesdale and Walker streets in Philadelphia around Nov. 21, 2009, when he was allegedly rushed at by the defendant, Philadelphia resident John Trice, who allegedly shouted, “I am going to f…ing kill you.”

Without any provocation on the part of Venango, Trice then proceeded to smash a glass bottle on the plaintiff’s head, before using the jagged remains of the bottle to repeatedly stab Venango in the face and strike him on the head, causing Venango to suffer serious physical injuries, the lawsuit states.

Trice, the suit states, subsequently pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possessing an instrument of crime.

As a result of the attack, Venango sustained lacerations and contusions to his head and face, resulting in scarring and facial disfigurement; a fracture of the nasal bone; post-concussive syndrome, and other injuries, the complaint states.

Venango incurred a total of $6,620 in medical expenses, and he may incur additional expenses as time goes on, the suit states. Venango has also suffered aches and pains, mental anguish and “extreme humiliation” because of the attack.

The lawsuit contains counts of assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. For each count, Venango seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an amount not in excess of $50,000, plus court costs.

An arbitration hearing has been scheduled for the non-jury matter on Feb. 22, 2012.

The case number is 110601607.