Injured doctor sues boxer who broke his jaw at basketball game

The suit seeks $25,000 in damages and a jury trial.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A physician has sued the super heavyweight Golden Gloves boxer who broke his jaw and knocked him unconscious by punching him at a pickup basketball game.

Dr. Matthew Gugliotti, of New Middletown, a family practice resident at St. Elizabeth Health Center, filed the civil lawsuit against Wesley Triplett, 22, of Dearborn Street, who pleaded no contest to the criminal charge of felonious assault.

The lawsuit, filed last week, followed closely upon the Aug. 21 hearing at which Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Triplett to three years’ probation.

The lawsuit, filed by Atty. James S. Gentile, seeks more than $25,000 in damages and demands a jury trial. It is assigned to Judge John M. Durkin of the same court. Also listed as a defendant is an organization known as LCAA Sports of New Castle.

The suit says that organization sponsored the Sept. 2, 2007, league basketball game at the former South High School Fieldhouse, where the 6-foot-61‚Ñ2-inch, 213-pound Triplett punched the doctor with a closed fist after fouling him.

LCAA negligently failed to provide “a safe and secure atmosphere” for the game, the suit says.

The suit says the doctor, whose broken jaw was wired shut for a month, suffered emotional and physical injuries from the unprovoked attack, including “extensive facial damages resulting in surgery.’’

Triplett could not be reached to comment. No telephone listing was available for LCAA.