A decision was made yesterday in a civil suit involving two former Ohio State football players.
Former OSU center LeCharles Bentley was determined by Franklin County Common Pleas Court to be liable under the law for damages suffered by former offensive tackle, Tyson Walter, in an altercation that took place on Feb. 17, 2000.
Walter alleged he was leaving the field after a workout, and without warning, Bentley struck him in the face.
The attack left Walter with a fractured nose and several broken teeth, Walter said.
Since the incident, Walter has undergone extensive dental work and may lose some teeth permanently, said Todd Neuman, Walter’s attorney.
The court decided “that Bentley acted intending to cause a harmful or offensive contact to Walter, and the harmful contact did, in fact, result in satisfying the legal definition of both assault and battery.”
The decision was made in a preliminary hearing that was granted to Walter’s council.
“We are pleased by the decision,” Neuman told local media. “We are looking forward to having our day in court to prove the severe damages (Walter) has suffered.
“My client and I are confident that a jury will return a substantial damage award after considering the numerous physical and economical damages inflicted on Tyson by defendant LeCharles Bentley’s intentional and malicious attack,” Neuman said.
Whether the case will go to trial is yet to be determined, and damages are still pending, said Jim Connors, Bentley’s legal counsel.
Bentley was not available for comment.
Walter and Bentley were drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints, respectively, in the 2002 NFL draft.
