Customer of Al's Beef on Ontario Street claims employee hit him

A man is suing the owner of a chain of restaurants that serve Italian beef, claiming he was injured by an employee who allegedly struck him with a stick or bat.

Mark Shapiro filed a lawsuit Oct. 7 in Cook County Circuit Court against HAJ Inc., doing business as Al's Beef Restaurant, alleging negligence.

According to the complaint, Shapiro and his friends ordered and paid for food at the Al's Beef Restaurant on West Ontario Street on Oct. 7, 2012, and while waiting for the food to be prepared, Shapiro walked outside.

When he attempted to re-enter the restaurant, Shapiro claims the door was locked, and his entry was challenged by an unknown person after a friend opened the door for him. He further alleges that someone later identified as an employee of the defendant hit him in the head and back with a stick or bat.

His suit accuses the defendant restaurant of being negligent in failing to properly train employees and provide adequate security.

Shapiro is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is represented by attorney Todd A. Heller of Law Offices of Todd A. Heller and Associates in Deerfield.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L010412.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it only represents one side of the story.