On Wednesday Jan. 13, former Backstreet Boy Nick Carter was arrested in Key West, Fla., following an alleged bar brawl and booked for misdemeanor battery after he allegedly head-butted an employee at the Hog's Breath Saloon and grabbed the bar's bouncer by his throat, as HNGN previously reported. While Carter has since apologized for his drunken actions, it looks like his legal troubles aren't over; one of the employees has now filed a lawsuit.
The bouncer, Skylar Carden, is suing Carter for what he says was "unruly and disrespectful" behavior. He says he aslso asked Carter to leave several times and tried to escort him out of the bar before the alleged attack, according to TMZ. The lawsuit claims Carter got physically aggressive, "striking and choking" Carden. Sources connected to the bar have described the attack as Carter squeezing the bouncer's larynx.
"Nick Carter has shown the world that he is nothing more than a backstreet thug," Carden's attorney Mark G. DiCowden said in a press release, according to E! News. "Even though Nick Carter is a celebrity, he is no different from anyone else when it comes to respecting the rights of others. Mr. Carden was just doing his job to maintain order and didn't deserve to be attacked-getting beaten up by patrons is not part of his job description."
"Carter's backhanded apology in the form of a tweet was a crude attempt to control public relatins and did nothing to address his remorse for the harm he caused Carden," he added. "No amount of fame or fortune justifies Carter's shameful and outrageous conduct. To send him that message and deter his misbehavior in the future, we will seek punitive damages against him as allowed by Florida law."
A few days after the arrest, Carter sounded humble on Twitter: "I am human and at times it can be a struggle to balance a healthy lifestyle. I'm not perfect and for that I am sorry," the 35-year-old wrote at the time, adding, "When we fall we have to get up and keep on walking. I hope you stay by my side and continue to walk with me."
Carter spent the night of his arrest in jail and was released on a $1,500 bond. Court records show he has pleaded not guilty. If convicted of battery, he could receive a maximum sentence of one year in jail or one year of probation, plus a $1,000 fine. He is due to be arraigned on Feb. 8.
