Man sues over strip club dental injuries

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- An Indiana man's lawsuit for injuries he suffered when a stripper's shoe flew off during a performance and hit him in the teeth isn't far-fetched, lawyers say.

Jake Quagliaroli, 34, of Indianapolis sat approximately 20 feet from the stage at PT's Showclub when the shoe hit him in the face and chipped his front teeth, the Indianapolis Star reported Friday.

Quagliaroli got veneers, which will require replacement every 10 or 15 years. He also got temporary caps and may need a root canal at some future time, said Ali Saeed, his lawyer.

Quagliaroli's complaint said the incident will cause him to suffer "lifelong dental injuries."

"I wouldn't bet my life that this would get dismissed immediately," Andy Klein, a law professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, said of the suit, in which Quagliaroli claims battery and negligence and requests a jury to determine damages.

If Quagliaroli can prove the club should have known from past experience such incidents are a hazard, he might win in court, said Klein, comparing the case to suits brought against baseball teams when foul balls hit spectators.

But Bill Powers, the nightclub's agent, said the club has not had any such complaints in the five or more years he has worked for it.

"The fact is that (Quagliaroli) walked into someplace and wasn't anticipating injury, and walked out of there with chipped teeth and potentially lifelong dental injuries," said Saeed.