The victims of a 2014 gay-bashing case in Philadelphia have filed a civil suit against their attackers.
Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught filed suit May 17 in the Court of Common Pleas against Kathryn Knott, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams. The three were involved in a September 2014 attack on Hesse and Haught at 16th and Chancellor streets that left the couple badly injured.
Harrigan and Williams took plea deals that allowed them to avoid potential jail time but Knott took her case to trial and was convicted of four misdemeanor charges. She is three-and-a-half months in to her five-10-month sentence.
The suit was filed Tuesday by the firm Kline & Specter. The suit requests a total judgment in excess of $500,000; there are 10 counts against the three defendants, each of which includes a request for judgment in excess of $50,000.
“The charges in the criminal trial were about the punishment of the defendants’ actions under the criminal,” Andrew Youman, attorney for the couple, told PGN last week. “The D.A. brought those charges. The civil system is about compensation, and that’s what this case is about: compensation for everything they have been through as a result of the conduct of the defendants.”
The counts against Harrigan are assault and battery regarding Hesse and assault regarding Haught. Knott faces a charge of assault and battery for her interaction with Hesse and assault for Haught. The suit charges Williams with assault and battery for Haught and assault for Hesse. All three face a count of negligent infliction of emotional stress for each victim, and restatement of tortes for each victim.
The suit, which requests a jury trial, reiterates the details of the incident Haught and Hesse relayed on the stand during Knott’s trial in December. The couple says they were walking in Center City when they encountered the trio and a group of their friends. They say Harrigan called Hesse a “dirty fucking faggot” and, “without provocation, justification or any cause whatsoever,” shoved Harrigan and struck Hesse.
The suit contends Knott struck Hesse in the face and called him a “faggot,” and Williams struck Haught “multiple times in the face with a closed fist.” Haught suffered multiple facial fractures.
Once the defendants have been served, a scheduling order will be issued by the Court of Common Pleas. From there, attorneys will conduct discovery and take deposition, and prepare for a potential trial. Youman noted that the civil process usually takes at least a year, and sometimes can take two.
This is the second lawsuit against Knott in as many months.
Last month, a Norristown woman filed a federal lawsuit against Knott, her father and several other parties after she contends she lost her job unjustly for posting derogatory comments about Knott online. She is seeking $5 million.
That case has been assigned Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg. In a phone conference with all parties May 19, Goldberg approved an extension to June 30 for the defendants to respond to the suit.