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Oct. 20, 2007
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NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND: Paralyzed bouncer files suit

'Pacman' Jones, the NFL and Titans named in case

By BRIAN HAYNES
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Tommy Urbanski talks Friday at a news conference at the Courtyard Hotel where he announced a lawsuit against Adam "Pacman" Jones, the NFL and the Tennessee Titans in the shooting that left him paralyzed. Urbanski's lawyer, Matthew Dushoff, is also shown.
Photo by John Gurzinski.



Adam "Pacman" Jones
Player eventually was suspended for a year

A bouncer who was paralyzed in the February shooting at the Minxx strip club filed a lawsuit Friday against the National Football League, the Tennessee Titans and player Adam "Pacman" Jones, saying they were responsible for his injuries.

Tommy Urbanski, 44, said he hopes the lawsuit will set up his wife, Kathy, financially and lead to changes in NFL player discipline policy.

"If they had three strikes and you're out, this wouldn't have happened to me. He got 10 strikes," Urbanski said, referring to Jones and his numerous run-ins with the law before the Feb. 19 shooting.

Urbanski was shot after a melee inside the club at the tail end of NBA All-Star Weekend. The lawsuit claims Jones inflamed the melee, fought with club security and threatened to kill the bouncers. It also claims Jones ordered a member of his entourage to open fire outside the club.

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    • Urbanski had come to work 15 minutes early and was helping clear the club when a bullet ripped through his chest and lodged in his spinal cord. He hasn't walked since.

    Jones and two associates have been charged in the melee, but the gunman remained free.

    The NFL eventually suspended Jones for a year, but Urbanski's lawyer, Matthew Dushoff, said the league and Titans should have acted sooner.

    "The NFL knew, and so did the Titans, of Adam Jones' criminal and malicious background. They chose to take no action," he said. "If Pacman Jones was disciplined earlier for his 10 prior incidents, Tommy would not be in a wheelchair today."

    The league and the Titans disputed the lawsuit's claims.

    "We have great sympathy for Tommy and Kathy, but we strongly disagree with any claims against the NFL and the Titans and will respond appropriately to the court," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

    Jones' lawyer, Robert Langford, called the lawsuit "absurd."

    "It's the same crazy allegations that are not provable in court," he said. "It's a desperate move on their part when they try to latch on to anyone who ever knew Pacman."

    Another defendant in the lawsuit was Houston-based strip club Harlem Knights, which rented Minxx and supplied the strippers during NBA weekend. The lawsuit claims the company's staff and security ran when the trouble started instead of trying to help.

    "When the melee started, it was like the lights turned on and the cockroaches scattered," Dushoff said.

    A man who answered a call to the phone number listed on the Harlem Knights Web site said he was not affiliated with the club.

    Despite his injuries and anger about the shooting, Urbanski said he has tried to move on. "I don't focus on it because it doesn't do me any good," he said.

    Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0281.



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    Robert wrote on October 20, 2007 08:29 PM: Inclusion of the NFL and Tennessee Titans is preposterous. Greg Aiello had it exactly right. Sympathy to the Urbanskis but the NFL had nothing to do with a thug being in an Non-NFL City on an NBA weekend at a Strip Club. Nothing. I hope the Urbanskis recover fully against Minxx but the NFL undertkes sanctions against their counsel for such a hamhanded effort to find a deep pocket in the NFL.


    Chris wrote on October 20, 2007 01:19 PM: NBA and the All Star game. Gifts that just keep giving and giving...


    Steve wrote on October 20, 2007 08:43 AM: I hope they drop the NFL and the Titans and he wins in excess of 600 million dollars from "Pactrash Jones". With the players' unions, and the American Criminals Love Us (ACLU), the NFL couldn't do anything about this gangster filth.


    sam malone wrote on October 20, 2007 08:37 AM: hey fool that dushooff could not win a traffic ticket trial,, you better hire a real plaintiff's lawyer no a scrub


    delray wrote on October 20, 2007 08:36 AM: hey sid,,, guess what that bouncer better get used to social security as he wont be collecting a dime. you assume the risk when you work as a bouncer. buck up


    GOD wrote on October 20, 2007 08:34 AM: He should actually include the NBA and the mayor in the lawsuit. They actually brought these thugs to town with the All-Star weekend!!!
    Wasn't that a fun time!?


    Sid wrote on October 20, 2007 06:28 AM: Mr. Langford: You think this lawsuit is "absurb". Guess what pal, you and your pal "Pacman" are about to receive a barb wire enema.