Man files suit over golfing fight

LISBON -- A Wellsville man is suing another golfer and a golf course over a fight in July 2001 on the links.
Howard Williams of Wellsville filed the suit recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, naming as defendants Craig Carr of Rochester, Pa., and Turkana Golf Course in St. Clair Township.
Williams was involved in a fight with Carr at the golf course. The two men were playing in separate parties.
The fight left Williams, an off-duty Wellsville police officer, with a broken wrist and stab wounds from a splintered putter. The melee followed complaints by Williams' group that Carr's group was playing too slowly. In the lawsuit, Williams said he is suing Carr as a result of the assault. He is suing the golf course, the lawsuit states, because it was negligent in allowing Carr to be on the premises while intoxicated.
Carr was unavailable to comment. Doug Hoppel, Turkana owner, denied the lawsuit's claim of negligence. Hoppel also said there's no proof Carr had been drinking.
Carr was convicted of a misdemeanor assault charge in May and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
The lawsuit is asking that Williams be awarded damages and attorney fees. No amount was specified.
The case is assigned to Judge C. Ashley Pike, who heard the criminal case against Carr.