Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Dancer Claims Club Owners Beat Her

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - Strip club owners beat a woman so badly she suffered seizures, and they warned her, "If you go to the police or hospital, your kids will grow up with no mom," the woman claims in court.

Terra Johnson sued Miss Kitty's Inc., Miss Kitty's owners Reginald Allen and his mother Gail Allen, its manager/employee Jody Marsala, and a Jane Doe, in St. Clair County Court.

Miss Kitty's is a strip club in East St. Louis. Johnson, a dancer, claims the male defendants attacked her in the club on July 14, 2012.

She claims Reginald Allen forced her off stage and into a rest room, where he grabbed her by the throat and yelled at her about money.

Marsala entered and "slamm(ed) her head into a toilet," the complaint states.

Then Jane Doe then came in and punched her repeatedly in the face and head, and her assailants dragged her into a dressing room, where she had a seizure, Johnson claims.

"Miss Kitty's staff, including one or more of the defendants, blocked others' efforts to provide aid to the plaintiff," the complaint states.

"As plaintiff sat, suffering from her injuries, the assault suddenly started back up when defendant Jody Marsala dragged the plaintiff off of a toilet by her head.

"Plaintiff was then told by one or more of the defendants 'If you go to the police or hospital, your kids will grow up with no mom."

Johnson claims she was eventually thrown out of the club's back door wearing nothing but a bikini top. Agents of Miss Kitty's then had a patron drive her home.

"On the drive home and once she arrived, plaintiff continued having severe seizures," the complaint states. "However, due to the threats made by defendants, she declined to seek medical attention immediately.

"However, in the time following the incident, plaintiff has had several serious neurological episodes related to the trauma and could have permanent injuries."

Johnson says Reginald Allen continued to threaten after the beating, forcing her to move her and her family to a different state out of fear.

She claims Reginald Allen has "an extensive history of sometimes violent criminal behavior including charges of battery, assault, gun charges and drugs." She claims his mother knew of her son's violent history, but hired him anyway.

Johnson seeks compensatory and punitive damages for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, negligence, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She is represented by Michael Gras from the Law Office of Christopher Cuero.

Miss Kitty's representatives were unavailable for comment Monday.

Follow @@joeharris_stl
Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...