Tavern sued by man hurt in brawl involving singer
Palatine’s Lamplighter Inn Tavern and Grille has been hit with a lawsuit alleging a man was attacked by a security employee during a brawl involving pop singer Haley Reinhart and several of her friends.
Alan Chislof, 30, of Wheeling, suffered “serious and permanent injuries as a result of the attack” by Lamplighter Inn bouncer Adam Sobanski about 2 a. m. July 8, according to the suit filed in Cook County circuit court.
“It is a primary responsibility for them to have security,” said Chislof’s attorney, Mark A. Brown. “But their security has to bewell- trained and well- supervised in order to prevent acts like this.”
Brown said Tuesday he has issued a subpoena to Palatine police seeking reports and Lamplighter Inn surveillance video in an effort to identify other employees who might have harmed his client.
Sobanski, 32, of Palatine, has been indicted on two counts of felony aggravated battery for the injuries he reportedly inflicted on Chislof and is named with Lamplighter Inn in the lawsuit. Sobanski, who has been held on $ 45,000 bail, punched and generally attacked Chislof, according to the suit filed Aug. 21.
Lamplighter Inn co- owners Lisa and Frank Bellanca did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Accusations of negligent employee training and hiring are part of the six- count complaint against Lamplighter Inn. The suit seeks at least $ 50,000 in damages on each of six counts.
Reinhart, 26, a former “American Idol” finalist and Wheeling native, was charged with misdemeanor battery after Palatine police said she struck a Lamplighter Inn security worker.
She appeared at a hearing in the Rolling Meadows branch of circuit court this month, when Palatine prosecutor James Et ching ham indicated the village will be ready for trial Oct. 6. Reinhart’s attorney has denied she hit anyone and contends she was the one who was attacked.
Police said someone from Reinhart’s party flipped a table and the group was asked to leave. As they were doing so, authorities said, Reinhart struck a bouncer.
Chislof’s lawyer contends Reinhart touched a rope separating tables from the dance floor, angering bouncers, one of whom grabbed her arm.
After the melee erupted, Chislof suffered a concussion, broken nose, black eyes and other injuries, Brown said. The altercation was captured on surveillance and mobile video.
Chislof — described as a friend of Reinhart from Wheeling High School— was at the downtown Palatine bar with five women, including his girlfriend and the singer.
While Chislof has returned to his job as a personal trainer and sales representative at an Evanston workout facility, Brown said it’s been difficult for him to get past the attack.
“The emotional and intangible damages that Alan suffered really, at this point, are immeasurable,” Brown said.