PI Lawyer Plans to Sue His Alleged Attackers, Located Through iPhone Tracking
A North Dakota personal injury lawyer who was beaten and robbed after confronting three men early Saturday plans to sue the alleged attackers, even though he has little expectation of recovering much money from any judgment.
The lawyer, a Grand Forks resident, declined to be identified because of fears the three suspects would track him down and hurt him, the Grand Forks Herald reports. “I plan to sue them for pain and suffering and emotional distress,” the lawyer told the publication. He said he still has pain after being treated and released from the hospital.
The lawyer says his troubles began after confronting three men who were yelling, throwing bottles and urinating in public, the story says. The lawyer says two of the men punched him in the face, choked him and kicked him until he was unconscious. The trio also took his iPhone before speeding off in a truck, according to the lawyer’s account.
The lawyer and his wife used “Find My iPhone” to locate the suspects as they drove down the highway and then pulled into a McDonald’s drive-through window, according to the lawyer. The suspects saw the lawyer and his wife following them and handed the iPhone to a restaurant employee, the lawyer says.
Charged in the beating and theft are 35-year-old James Costello and 26-year-old Alexander Forrest, who have been released on bond. A third man accused in the theft, 27-year-old Jason Gore, remained in jail. Gore was not accused in the beating. Prosecutors said the trio travel for painting and water-proofing jobs.
