Concert fan sues Hard Rock

Jennifer Knight

Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

A man who attended a Sex Pistols concert and left on a gurney has filed a civil lawsuit against the Hard Rock Hotel, alleging that bouncers were so rough that he ruptured tendons in his knees and legs.

According to a lawsuit filed Thursday in District Court, Thomas Piecuch, 41, attended the punk rock band's concert on Sept. 5 at The Joint, a club within the hotel. Piecuch claims he was enjoying the concert when "security grabbed (him) from behind and removed him from the club."

"He thinks that because he took a picture, security came and took him away," Robert Martin, Piecuch's attorney, said. "He doesn't have much recollection after that. When he came to, he was hurting. He later found out he ruptured both his quadricep tendons."

Piecuch is suing for damages in excess of $10,000.

Hard Rock security officials say the story is quite the opposite.

"The gentleman actually was in a fight with someone," said John Barr, the Hard Rock's director of security. "He was not grabbed or touched by anybody from security. As a matter of fact, they put him on the gurney."

Barr said security was alerted that there was a man on the floor of the club and concert-goers were tripping over him. Security arrived to get him medical help.

"When they carried him out, he was highly intoxicated," Barr said. "He didn't even know what hotel he was in."

Martin said his client was not rowdy that night and was just trying to enjoy the concert. Piecuch is still suffering physical problems from that night, he said. Martin said he hope there is a security videotape from that night in order to shed more light on what happened.