In 2009, Justin Goodwin was so severely gay-bashed outside a bar in Gloucester, Massachusetts that, following ten hours of surgery, he ended up blind in one eye, deaf in one ear, and with a mouth that needed to be wired shut for two months.
Last year, he tragically committed suicide, reports the Salem News. His lawyers say he took his own life because of his difficult recovery from the incident, stating that he was surrounded by journals he’d kept about getting back to health. While the four men who attacked him have been criminally convicted (but not of a hate crime) and are behind bars now, his family is proceeding with a civil case to seek justice—and damages—for Goodwin’s pain.
Writes the News:
His family and lawyers say he was never the same after the beating, touched off after he went to the aid of his sister when she got into a fight in the bar.
Goodwin died of a lethal mixture of prescription drugs he injected on March 31, 2011.
Shortly after the beating, Goodwin filed a civil rights lawsuit against the bar’s owners and his assailants.
After Goodwin’s death, his father, Paul Goodwin Sr., took over the case as executor of his son’s estate. Lawyers for the Goodwins sought to add a wrongful death count.
Judge David Lowy will hear arguments today on whether to allow the jury to consider that.
The lawsuit names the bar (under its legal name Sportsmans Pub Inc.); former owner Michael Favazza; former manager Jon Churchill; four men who were eventually charged criminally and convicted, Jonathan and William Chadwick, John Curley, and Mark Elwell; and another alleged participant, James Hiland.
The Old Timer’s Tavern lost its license for 30 days and later shut down.
A wrongful death count would probably allow for more civil damages to be collected, despite the fact that these assaulters have already been criminally convicted and are serving out their two-year-plus sentences in jail. The criminal conviction was not considered a hate crime, which could have been a point of distress for Goodwin in his difficult recovery and eventual suicide.
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Should the court look to collect more damages against the bar’s owners and the perpetrating patrons, or should it let the criminal charges be enough punishment?
pixipie
The criminal charges are NOT enough as they have not been considered HATE crimes. I’m at a loss. How much more is Goodwin’s family at a loss… don’t settle for the so called JUSTICE served. It’s not about money (as civil suit verdicts are not always paid in full) , it’s about the precedent and showing that this will not be tolerated or accepted. Get it on the books!
nikko
Just horrible. Poor man.
cam
I have straight friends who have moved out of a city including changing jobs to get away from a city after being mugged.
If a non violent mugging effected them so much that they altered their lives like that I have no doubt that this horrific incident drove him to suicide.
scott ny'er
This is a terrible thing to hear about. So sad and tragic. I hope Karma exists but I doubt it. Even tho these wretched criminals are in jail, I bet they still have a good life. Eye for an eye, cut off their eye, blind them in 1 eye. Bash them.
scott ny'er
I also think Queerty should have the pic of Justin when he was beat up. It reminds us of the brutality of those anti-LGBT people and to what lengths they will go to because of their hatred of us.
This thread should have 100 comments, instead of some public-nudity, alleged sex on a cruise ship thread.
truthbetold
So basically he commited suicide because he no longer found himself attractive…….yeah thats what its gonna come down to. Dont see this one happening…
Olive Austin
truthbetold: You’re a moron! Half-blind, half-deaf, and emotionally traumatized isn’t anywhere close to “no longer found himself attractive”. Did you even bother to read the story? No, I didn’t think so.
VJ
@truthbetold: You must be the token Republican commenter on this article. You are an absolute monster.
Kevin in Cincy
You’re an insensitive, shallow dickbag @truthbetold. Know it? Now you do…
Grace Alexander
@truthbetold – hard to find words, but I’ll do my best.
Asshat.
Douchecanoe.
Ratbastard.
jason
This happened in liberal Massachusetts. But, but…I thought it was a nice place for gays.
m
being in jail is not enuff……….they should have to pay for the rest of their lives for what they did………..maybe when all of their money for the rest of their life goes to this guys family they will relise what they did…….
VJ
@jason: There are still plenty of conservatives in Massachusetts. You people are an infestation.
Kev C
While the city may have a public interest in keeping these actors from doing business in Gloucaster, it’s always difficult in suicide cases to show a causative link. But I would like to see it done and let the jury decide.
jason
Democrat voters are notorious gay bashers.
Jeremy
@jason: Forgot to take your med? Shut your nasty political nut-whack hole.
pedro
@jason: Most of the people who commit crimes like gay bashings are, to put it bluntly, low lifes at the margins of society…Not exactly the kind of conscientious citizens who take time out of their day to stand in line and cast votes…These thugs probably do not have many opinions on domestic or foreign policy…In other words, they are most likely neither Democrat nor Republican…Just losers without prospects looking for someone to take out their rage on.
Hyhybt
As to the last paragraph: the bar owners should not be involved at all unless there is proof that they were involved in some way more direct than happening to own the place where the incident happened.
Dave Kaye
If Justin was savagely assaulted because he was gay, this should be a hate crime Without that evidence it would be difficult to prove. More importantly he was a human being who did not deserve the brutal beating that he received. The perps are in jail and if Justin’s family gets any justice at all they (perps) should be made to pay for the rest of their lives. However, the low lifes that did this probably don’t have a pot to pee in. Even a dollar a week in perpituity would be a reminder of what they have done. On the other hand I understand that jail can be quite an attractive spot if you’re young and cute. Karma wins!
shannon
AWFUL….THIS PLAIN AWFUL……I WISH WE WOULD COME TOGETHER AND BASH THESE BASHERS THE HELL BACK!!!
AriesSiren
@truthbetold:
wow, im going to assume your trolling because if you really are a gay human being, what you just said, is vile. you should be ashamed. god help us if you are gay because your toxic man.
i was almost bashed but fought back, you have no idea what it feels like or you would not have said what u said. get some help
AriesSiren
i feel terrible about this poor man. i can identify. i hope the family gets closure and they win this. this is why its important gays stick together and support each other.
BlogZilla
@truthbetold: Did you even read the article you fucktard? Or do you know how to read?
The bashing caused him to go deaf in one ear, blind in one eye, and to have his mouth wired shut for 2 months, meaning he had to be fed through a tube, and he was emotionally traumatized.
I wish it had been you that had been physically assaulted.