Raiders RB Jones-Drew sued year after bar fight

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew is being sued in Florida, accused of punching a bouncer at a St. Augustine restaurant.

The suit was electronically filed May 30 in St. Johns County.

Bouncer Kasim Howard is suing Jones-Drew, saying the former Jacksonville Jaguars star punched him May 26, 2013, at the Conch House Restaurant.

Howard accuses Jones-Drew of intentionally causing injury and severe emotional distress. Howard is seeking a judgment for injury resulting in ''pain and suffering, loss of capacity of for enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical expenses (past and future), inability to perform his work as a professional boxer, mental and emotional pain, humiliation, inconvenience, lost wages, legal expenses and other general and specific damages.''

The State Attorney's Office reviewed a criminal complaint and decided not to charge Jones-Drew last summer.

''The State Attorney shut this down after reviewing everything,'' said MJD's attorney, Hank Coxe. ''We haven't heard anything in ages and then we get a lawsuit after he moves to Oakland? We will deal with this in the judicial system as we have everything else.''

According to the lawsuit, Howard attempted to use a ''bear hug'' to physically remove an intoxicated patron from the restaurant on Memorial Day. Jones-Drew, who was in a group with the patron, allegedly tried to intervene. Howard told Jones-Drew he was escorting the patron out. Jones-Drew appeared to walk away, according to the suit, but then blind-sided Howard with a punch to the left jaw.

Another security guard grabbed Jones-Drew, the suit said, and the player left the restaurant.

Howard says he was treated at Flagler Hospital for ''injuries suffered during the attack, including contusions, loss of consciousness, a concussion and a herniated disc of the spine.''

Howard is requesting a jury trial and an award of punitive and compensatory damages.

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