EDMONTON — An Edmonton soccer dad has filed a lawsuit over a violent attack he says left him with serious injuries after a racially heated game.
A statement of claim says Dean Smith was a spectator at a soccer match two years ago when he was assaulted and battered by five players without cause or justification.
Smith is suing the five players, the Alberta Soccer Association, the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association and the Mill Woods Soccer Association and its then-chairman.
Smith alleges he suffered serious fractures, broken teeth, nerve damage, a concussion and post-traumatic stress as a result of the attack by the players.
He also alleges the other defendants were negligent for failing to control the game and its aftermath.
Last month, Manpreet Grewal, 20, was sentenced to a year in jail for aggravated assault.
Statements of defence have not yet been filed. Statements of claim contain unproven allegations.
Smith alleges he suffered a severe fracture of his jaw, severe fractures to the right side of his face requiring surgery, a fractured nose, blurred vision in his right eye, facial nerve damage and a severe concussion.
He also claims he suffered broken teeth, multiple bruises to his body, severe injury to his joints, post-traumatic stress, headaches, depression and anxiety.
Court heard during Grewal’s trial that he was one of several under-18 players who chased Smith after a heated verbal confrontation following the game, and then punched and kicked Smith when he tripped and fell.
Smith, 44, testified he got into a shouting match with several players and admitted he got “frustrated” and a “little angry” as the two sides traded racial and sexual slurs.
Even though Grewal was convicted, the judge strongly criticized Smith for taunting the players with a “harsh racial and religious slur.”
Four youths had their charges withdrawn.