The victims in an alleged altercation with two professional football players at a Miami Beach nightclub have said they will file a lawsuit against them.
Riquan James, also known as Ricky Vasquez on social media, made several posts on Twitter and Instagram, alleging that Dolphins center Mike Pouncey and his brother Maurkice, center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, attacked him and a female friend at Cameo Nightclub early Saturday morning.
James said in a press conference announcing a lawsuit against the Pouncey’s and Club Cameo that not only was the attack physical, but verbally as well.
“The music was loud, but I know for a fact I heard *expletive* *expletive*, *expletive*. I know I heard that for a fact,” James said.
The Pouncey brothers were at Cameo celebrating their 25th birthday Friday night, according to an online flyer from the night club.
Vasquez said in a phone interview with NBC 6 that the Pouncey brothers started taunting him in the VIP section.
"From there, somebody grabbed me and I got hit," Vasquez said. "Somebody lifted me up and dragged me out of the club. I was being beat up, I was getting punched and kicked. A bottle hit me."
In his posts on social media, Vasquez said he was punched and has a chipped tooth, as well as a cut that required 10 stitches. Miami Beach Police confirmed to NBC 6 that police were called to Cameo around 4:20 a.m. Saturday in response to an altercation inside the nightclub.
Riquan said that a friend and a stranger both say they saw the incident with the Pouncey’s and were also injured.
“I noticed Maurkice had his hand in Ricky’s face and he just hit him,” said Niya Pickett. “So I jumped in to try and intervene and separate Ricky to get him out of there. That’s when Maurkice turned around to punch me in my face.”
Bentley William said, “The fight knocked me over on a table filled with tall glasses. I fell to the floor. I suffered a cut , I think is about two inches that I had to get 9 stitches and lacerations in my leg.”
The Pouncey's attorney, Jeff Ostrow, issued a statement saying: “Mike and Maurkice were not involved in any altercation with the accuser or anyone else that night and did nothing wrong. It appears that the accuser is an opportunist seeking attention and possible financial gain. Any attempt by the accuser or anyone else to bring an action against them based upon these false allegations will be vigorously defended. If the accuser continues to perpetuate these lies, we will bring an action against him.”
“I’m 5’6”. I’m brave, but I’m not stupid. I’m not going to bother two huge guys,’ James said.
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Cameo has not returned calls for comment and the lawsuit didn’t specify any monetary damages.
