Man files civil lawsuit against Panthers' Beason

Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason was sued Tuesday by a team fan who claims Beason beat him last month at the Uptown Cabaret.

Gregory C. Frye claims in his lawsuit the Nov. 15 attack occurred after he told another Panthers player that he had seen Beason "up at the lake doing coke with some girl."

Beason, 24, was arrested Monday and accused of punching Frye in the face at the Morehead Street strip club after the team's win over Atlanta.

Beason, one of the Panthers' team captains and their leading tackler, adamantly denies attacking Frye and the drug allegations, said his attorney George Laughrun.

"I think Mr. Frye is living in fantasyland if he thinks Jon Beason ever snorted cocaine," Laughrun said.

Frye's suit claims he went to the annual Lake Bash at Lake Norman in June and saw Beason and an attractive woman "engaging in what he believed to be snorting cocaine."

The suit then describes what Frye, 29, alleges happened at the nightclub after he told Panthers tight end Dante Rosario that he had seen Beason doing cocaine.

Frye claims Beason's driver/bodyguard later approached him, saying: "Whatever you said about Beason, he's really pissed. You need to go talk to him."
Frye says a short time later Beason approached him "in a noticeably angry manner, cursing and yelling at Frye about the 'cocaine' statement."

To cool things down, Frye said, he suggested talking outside.

Frye says he took one step and turned to see if Beason was following.

"Just as Frye turned around, Beason hit him with a crushing right blow to his left eye/nose area," the suit says. "When the blow landed, Frye saw a streak of light, his legs buckled, and he fell to the floor."

Frye claims he was kicked as he tried to get up. When he got to his feet, he alleges, Beason struck him again on the left side of his head, causing him to stagger back as someone handed him a rag to catch blood rushing from his nose.

Frye says he didn't raise a hand or provoke Beason, and that he didn't fight back.

The lawsuit alleges that Beason was asked if he had struck Frye, and that Beason responded "something along the lines of, 'Yeah, I hit him. It might cost me a hundred grand, but you don't go around telling people I'm doing coke ...'"

Frye says he suffered a crushed nasal cavity, a facial fracture and swelling on the left side of his head. He is seeking damages in excess of $10,000.

Frye has a history of criminal charges and civil complaints, according to court records.

Among them: He sued a woman in 2005 for assault and battery and for medical costs, records show, but the case was dismissed. He was charged in 2008 with assaulting a female. That case was also dismissed.



(charlotteobserver.com)