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Man Claims Union Goons Beat Him

CLAYTON, Mo. (CN) - Union goons beat a man as he sold buttons and flags outside a congressman's public meeting, the man claims in a complaint against SEIU Local 1.

Kenneth Gladney claims two members of the Service Employees International Union "uttered racial slurs" and beat him as he sold pens, buttons and flags outside a meeting Rep. Russ Carnahan held with constituents at a middle school on Aug. 6, 2009.

"Defendants [Elston] McCowan and [Perry] Molens proceeded to punch plaintiff and cause him to fall to the ground," the complaint states. "Once plaintiff was on the ground defendants McCowan and Molens continued to attack plaintiff by kicking and beating him until bystanders and the St. Louis County Police caused defendants to stop the attack."

Gladney claims the SEIU "ordered, encouraged and arranged their employees McCowan and Molens to appear ... to harass, abuse and beat those individuals who held political views."

He claims he suffered injuries to his head, neck, shoulders, arms, face, back and mental anguish from the attack. He seeks punitive damages for his injuries, and for SEIU's negligent supervision.

He is represented by Matthew Hearne with Hearne & Bendick in St. Louis.

McCowan and Molens are named as defendants in their individual and official capacity with the SEIU. Two other SEIU representatives are also listed as defendants.

The complaint does not state what Gladney's political views are - merely that he has them.

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