Suit filed over assault at Thunderbird

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gaming entrepreneur Bob Stupak was sued by his former bodyguard, Ralph Owens, who alleges Stupak assaulted and injured him.

Owens claimed Stupak shoved him in the chest and pushed him back into a chair in the lounge of the Stupak-owned Thunderbird Hotel on Oct. 25, 1998. He said his former boss had become irate because he had turned off his cellular phone and Stupak couldn't reach him.

The suit also named Thunderbird Hotel and GSI Security and Protection Services Inc. as defendants. It alleges the hotel was negligent in the hiring, training and supervision of its security staff.

The suit alleged Owens is disabled from injuries in his lumbar spine and nervous system, and isn't working. It seeks compensation in excess of $10,000 for loss of wages, costs of past and future medical treatment and medication.

Stupak is seeking impulse control counseling to resolve a misdemeanor charge filed by police over the Owens incident. The battery charge is still pending while Stupak is in counseling, and Stupak is scheduled to appear before Municipal Judge Bert Brown for a status check on Nov. 4.

Under this alternative sentence, Stupak must complete the behavioral modification class and steer clear of trouble for six months after the program begins, said Diane Zammito, Municipal Court division manager for customer assistance.

"First time offenders usually qualify for such alternative sentencing. The whole idea is to change their behavior before it gets repetitive," she said.

Stupak couldn't be reached for comment on Owens' suit.

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