Jury awards no damages in lawsuit against ex-Pittsburgh Steeler

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An Allegheny County jury awarded no damages to a bouncer who claimed he was punched by former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Chukky Okobi.

Joseph Kania sued claiming Okobi punched him as Kania broke up a brawl in August 2012 at a bar on the city’s South Side.

Okobi denied that but was criminally charged with five counts of simple assault, though four were dismissed by a district judge before Okobi pleaded guilty to a lesser count of harassment. He was fined $100 and ordered to pay $2,600 for Kania’s medical bills.

A jury today ruled Okobi didn’t owe Kania any civil damages.

Afterward, Okobi denied hitting the bouncer, saying, “If he’s suffering, I feel bad, but it’s not because of me.”

Kania’s attorney said the verdict speaks for itself.