YORK – A confrontation between neighbors which escalated to gun shots and criminal charges against the alleged assailant being dropped during his trial has spawned a civil lawsuit in York County court.
Kenneth Knight and Bonnie Knight (individually and as husband and wife) of Abbotstown filed suit in the York County Court of Common Pleas on April 12 versus Richard Louis Starks, Christian Starks and Raymond Pritchard, all of Hanover.
“On May 2, 2022, Kenneth Knight was at his parents’ farm at 6900 Cannery Road, Hanover, Pennsylvania, when he had a confrontation with their neighbor, Richard Louis Starks. Mr. Knight was leaving his parents’ house and driving on a lane on his parents’ farm toward Cannery Road, when his path was blocked by defendant R. Starks and his vehicle. Defendant R. Starks was armed with a rifle and began firing at Mr. Knight. The gunshots shattered Mr. Knight’s windshield,” the suit says.
“Mr. Knight fearing for his parents’ safety if he reversed, attempted to drive around defendant R. Starks’ vehicle which caused a collision of the vehicles. As defendant R. Starks was still firing the rifle, Mr. Knight exited his vehicle out of the passenger door to cover himself from the gunshots. Defendant R. Starks approached Mr. Knight and began striking him with the butt of the rifle. During this confrontation, defendant R. Starks told Mr. Knight that he was going to kill him.”
The suit adds that defendant R. Starks “called defendants C. Starks and Pritchard to bring him additional guns and ammunition, as he had run out of ammunition.”
“Thereafter, defendants C. Starks and Pritchard arrived at the property. Eventually, law enforcement arrived and intervened. Mr. Knight’s vehicle was impounded as evidence in the ensuing criminal investigation,” the suit states.
“As a result of the confrontation, Mr. Knight suffered a concussion, has bullet fragments and shrapnel embedded in his body, one eye droops and its vision is permanently impaired, and he has hearing loss in his right ear. Mr. Knight also suffers from PTSD. The actions of defendants have caused Mr. Knight to suffer substantial mental anguish, physical suffering, shame and embarrassment.”
The plaintiffs have sought relief in civil court, after criminal charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment against R. Starks were dropped by the York County District Attorney’s Office, during the second day of his trial earlier this month.
For counts of assault and battery, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, injury to real property, negligence and loss of consortium, the plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $50,000, together with interest, costs, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and such other and further relief as this Honorable Court deems just, including equitable injunctive relief.
The plaintiffs are represented by Matthew B. Weisberg and David A. Berlin of Weisberg Law in Morton, plus Gary Schafkopf of Schafkopf Law, in Bala Cynwyd.
The defendants have not yet retained legal counsel.
York County Court of Common Pleas case 2024-SU-001070
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com