Two Years And A Visibly Damaged Skull After, U.S. California Man Awarded Whopping $58M

A U.S. California man has been awarded by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury a whopping $58 million two years after his brutal attack in a bar that left a visibly damaged skull, not to mention impaired his ability to speak.

Antonio Lopez Chaj, a 43-year-old undocumented migrant who works as a house painter and decorator, got involved in a fight on April 19, 2010, at La Barra Latina 2 near Catalina and 8th streets in the Pico Union area, along with his brother and two nephews. Court proceedings heard the fight ensued after one of his nephews was refused to be served by a bartender. The nephew retaliated, who started calling the bartender names. As expected, the bartender attacked the nephew, resulting to a brawl.

Within minutes, the brawl escalated this time to include a security guard who began using a baton on Mr Chaj's relatives. When Mr Chaj tried to intervene, the guard attacked him mercilessly, striking his head with the baton several times. Not content, the guard pulled him outside the bar and repeatedly hit him in the head. And in what could be one final, fatal blow, slammed his head into the pavement multiple times.

"His skull is like a pie with 25 per cent cut out of it," Federico Sayre, Mr Chaj's lawyer Chaj, said.

The LA Superior Court jury in Torrance ordered the unidentified security firm which Mr Chaj sued to pay him $11.5 million for future medical costs, $35 million for pain and suffering already endured and $11 million for future pain and suffering.

The enormity of Mr Chaj's medical situation was confirmed by the gasps heard on Monday when he removed his hat to show what left of his now deformed skull.

"Part of his skull was gone when he reached the hospital. They saved his life but he has significant brain damage," Mr Sayre said, noting because of the incident, Mr Chaj can no longer speak requires 24-hour nursing care. He also needs help to walk.

"It took the jury about two and a half hours to reach a verdict," Mr Sayre said. "We were all very nervous when they came back so quickly but they were unanimous on everything. It is a victory for justice."

However, Emerson Quintanilla, the alleged security guard, and the bartender-manager who sparked the attack have since disappeared even before the civil trial began.

During the trial, Mr Quintanilla denied using a baton, according to an investigator with the LA Police Department.

Still, Mr Quintanilla remained scot free because police never filed charges against him. Police said they were unable to find independent witnesses to verify the assault.

Mr Sayre, howewer, was able to gather evidence that the guard was unlicensed and had no permit for a baton. It was believed a metal baton was used to attack Mr Chaj.