Security guard blames rehab center for ear injury he says he sustained while breaking up fight

A security guard who claims his eardrum was broken breaking up a fight at an alcohol and drug rehab center is suing the owner of the spar's site, as well as the two alleged fighters.

Derek Upton filed a complaint Nov. 13 in Cook County Circuit Court against Human Resources Development Institute Inc., Duressa Bryant and Caroline, whose last name is unknown.

According to the complaint, Upton was employed by Halo Security Group as a security guard at the 33 E. 114th St. location owned by Human Resources Development Institute, which provides alcohol and substance abuse treatment, along with other educational, corrective and community-based services.

On March 14, 2013, while working his shift, Upton claims he was struck on the ear while trying to break up a fight between Bryant and Caroline, causing him to sustain a broken eardrum.

The plaintiff alleges Human Resources Development Institute knew or should have known that Bryant and Caroline had a propensity toward violence and should have taken proper precautions to protect employees on duty.

Upton is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, plus court costs, and is represented by attorney Charles E. Webster of Brustin & Lundblad in Chicago.

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