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Parking Space Stand-Off Ends with Broken Foot, Lawsuit
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 21, 2009
Modified Oct 21, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 21, 2009
Modified Oct 21, 2009
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A sushi chef who tried to "hold" a parking space for his manager by standing in the street ended up with a broken foot and other injuries after an irate driver tried to claim the space. Ke Hai Du says it all started around 5 p.m. on October 9th, when he noticed the space become available in front of the Peck Slip restaurant Suteishi. He dashed outside to save the space while his manager got her car, but before she arrived driver Paul Todd pulled up with plans of his own.
Du's lawyer Lawrence Glynn tells the Post that after Du informed Todd that he was saving the spot, Todd "inched forward and hit him in the knees. Du then threw up his arms like, 'I can't believe you just hit me.' Then the guy decided he really wanted the spot and hit the gas and [Du] couldn't get out of the way." As Du writhed on the ground in agony with a broken foot, his manager yelled at Todd, who allegedly retorted, "I would do it again." That's hardball!
Police were called but treated the assault as a traffic incident and didn't arrest Todd, who drove off as Du was being loaded into an ambulance. The incident left him with a broken foot, torn ligaments, and head, neck and back injuries. He's now hobbling around on a black cane, and tells the Daily News, "That car is a weapon. You could kill someone with it, you know?" According to court papers filed yesterday, he's suing Todd for $5 million.
Tagged
broken
chef
fight
foot
lawsuit
nyc
parking spot
south street seaport
space
suing
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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