Boardman man hit by falling TV sues bar and driver who hit building

Staff report

Youngstown

A sports bar patron has filed a lawsuit, saying he was seriously hurt when a car crashed into the bar’s front brick wall, causing a shelf-mounted television to fall on him as he sat under it.

Robert S. Fellman and his wife, Cathy, of Montrose Avenue, Boardman, sued the driver, Paul M. Sedzmak, and his wife, Theresa A. Sedzmak, owner of the car, both of Helena Drive, Struthers; LaVilla Sports Bar and Grille LLC, 810 Youngstown-Poland Road, Struthers, and bar owner Richard M. Brent.

The lawsuit alleges that Paul Sedzmak negligently failed to control the car, went over a concrete sidewalk and hit the side of the building, causing the allegedly insecurely mounted TV to fall on Fellman, injuring his head, neck and back on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2011. The lawsuit alleges Sedzmak’s wife negligently entrusted her car to her husband.

Paul Sedzmak, 52, pleaded no contest to failing to control a vehicle in Struthers Municipal Court and was fined $600 and put on a year’s probation.

The lawsuit, which seeks more than $75,000 in damages and demands a jury trial, was filed Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and assigned to Judge John M. Durkin.

“It was securely mounted,” Brent said of the TV. “When he hit the building, that’s the only reason it fell,” Brent said, referring to Paul Sedzmak.

The Sedzmaks could not be reached to comment.