South Elgin karaoke brawl lawsuit settled for $35,000
A woman who sued a South Elgin bar for injuries suffered in a 2011 karaoke brawl has settled her case for $35,000, according to Kane County court records.
Tami Hall, of Port Ludlow, Washington, sued Kim Nelson, the owner of the now-shuttered Last Shot Bar and Grill for negligence in September 2013, seeking unspecified damages.
Hall argued in the lawsuit that Nelson was negligent in hiring a bouncer with a criminal record.
During a karaoke night, the bouncer got angry at someone and threw a bar stool, according to the lawsuit.
Instead of hitting its intended target, the stool struck Hall, who was in town visiting relatives.
The airborne stool triggered a melee during which Hall was injured, according to the lawsuit.
"A massive brawl broke out in the packed bar. Still lying on the ground from the bar stool blow, Ms. Nelson was trampled and stepped on by patrons involved in the brawl," read part of the lawsuit.
Messages left with Hall's attorneys, Courtney Goldsworthy and Alexis Hawker, were not returned.
Jason Friedl, an attorney representing Nelson, did not return a phone message. Kane County Judge Edward Schreiber approved the settlement Thursday and the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
The bouncer, Russell M. Stadler, 38, of Elgin, was charged with misdemeanor battery in connection with the brawl, records show. He pleaded guilty and received supervision.
He was not a defendant in the lawsuit, nor did the criminal charges accuse him of injuring Nelson.
Trial set in cruelty case
An Oct. 19 jury trial has been set for a petting zoo co-owner accused of animal cruelty after 10 dead animals, including horses and a donkey, were found at two rented farms in Hampshire and Maple Park in March 2014.
Stacy Fiebelkorn, 36, of the 100 block of Borden Drive, Elgin, is co-owner of the Mini Crew Zoo petting zoo in Hampshire.
Eight of the dead animals were found at a farm on the 44W200 block of Route 20 in Hampshire and included a dead donkey, goat, two miniature horses and four chickens.
Other animals - including chickens, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, goats, horses, alpacas and llamas - were dehydrated, emaciated and did not have adequate food and water, authorities said.
More than 90 animals, many of which belonged to the petting zoo, were removed and relocated.
Fiebelkorn also is accused of failure to provide food, water and shelter.
If convicted, she faces up to a year in jail on the misdemeanor charge.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com