COLUMBUS, Ohio — The attorney representing the family of a man who died after he was beaten outside a bar in the Short North last year filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
In an announcement Friday morning, attorney Rex Elliot said that the family of 37-year-old Gregory Coleman is suing the owners of Julep and the suspects, 28-year-old Dwayne Cummings and 32-year-old Chrystian Foster, for damages related to Coleman’s death on Sept. 5, 2022. They are seeking damages in excess of $25,000.
The lawsuit alleges that on Sept. 5, Coleman was eating near Julep and talking with patrons at the bar. Cummings and Foster were working as security at the time and the bar was attempting to keep patrons in line.
According to the lawsuit, Foster “took issue with Coleman,” confronted him and asked him to clear the sidewalk. While Coleman and Foster were exchanging words, the video showed Cummings leaving a security stool outside of the bar.
The attorney alleged in the lawsuit that Foster escalated the situation and began to attack Coleman.
Coleman allegedly put his hands down and attempted to remove himself from the situation and Cummings sucker punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
The lawsuit alleged that while Coleman was lying on the ground, Cummings and Foster took turns “mercilessly beating his face in.” The attorney argued no employee at Julep tried to break up the fight or render aid to Coleman.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Coleman unresponsive, partially lying on the street and sidewalk. Coleman died at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 12 days after the incident.
Police arrested Cummings on Sept. 21 and Foster on Oct. 4. They are both charged with murder.
In December, Julep was one of 12 bars and businesses to not have their liquor licenses renewed because of violent crimes, overdoses or liquor violations.