A man from Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood who threw a pumpkin in a woman’s face, giving her a concussion, is being sued in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.
Robin Faulkner filed the lawsuit against James Gazis and his wife, Melissa Gazis, on Tuesday.
James Gazis, 40, was charged by Pittsburgh police with aggravated assault and propelling missiles into a car stemming from the Oct. 20 incident. He would up pleading guilty on Dec. 13 to two counts of disorderly conduct, and the more serious charges were withdrawn.
According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday, Faulkner was at Pearl and Lorigan streets in Bloomfield around 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 to pick up her grandson.
As Faulkner waited in her car, the lawsuit said, Melissa Gazis began screaming and waving her arms at her. Police said in the criminal complaint filed against James Gazis that his wife was yelling that Faulkner had nearly struck her and their child.
At that point, the lawsuit said, Faulkner put her window down to talk to Melissa Gazis, but as she did, James Gazis left their home and also started yelling at Faulkner.
Police said he then threw two pumpkins, including one that struck Faulkner in the face.
The lawsuit said that Faulkner suffered a concussion, traumatic brain injury, nose laceration, bruises, whiplash, bleeding, headaches, eye pain and anxiety.
The lawsuit alleges that both James and Melissa Gazis failed to take steps to deescalate the situation or to keep themselves under control.
It also alleges negligence against both of them for “failing to maintain proper control of a pumpkin so as not to accidentally injure members of the public, including (Faulkner).”
After Faulkner was struck by the pumpkin, her son, James Moore, came outside and began scuffling with James Gazis, ultimately throwing him to the ground, police said. Moore was charged with simple assault, but that count was withdrawn on the same day as James Gazis’ plea in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
Police said the initial incident was captured on a surveillance camera, which showed that neither Melissa Gazis nor her child were ever in danger of being struck by Faulkner’s car.
James Gazis’ defense attorney, Patrick Michael Livingston, did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
