An Instagram-famous bodybuilder and fitness label founder has been awarded more than $200,000 after being injured in a vicious brawl at a beach bar.
Clinton Chadwick has succeeded in his lawsuit against Bondi Beach Foods, the owner of the now-defunct bar The Bucket List, and security firm Crossguard Group for failing to prevent the attack.
The founder of Rig Fit Activewear had been at the site on the afternoon of December 22, 2017 when he got involved in an argument with Stephen Martin.
Justice Michael Elkaim SC said Mr Chadwick had ‘verbally antagonized him’ when he gave the first push.
Surveillance footage shows Mr Martin then picking up a nearby metal crutch and beating Mr Chadwick twice.
Clinton Chadwick (pictured) has been awarded more than $200,000 in damages after an attack on a bar left him ‘psychiatric and psychologically impaired’
Rig Fit activewear founder was injured in a brawl at a Bondi bar with surveillance footage showing his intoxicated assailant picking up a nearby metal crutch before beating Mr Chadwick twice
Mr Chadwick was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital after suffering a concussion during the brawl
“This patron, Stephen Martin, attacked (Mr Chadwick) so viciously that he passed out,” said the Supreme Court judge.
“Despite the plaintiff’s condition, lying on the ground, the attack on him continued.”
Mr Chadwick told the court the attack left him with ‘psychiatric and psychological impairment’ and a persistent stiffness in his neck.
He claimed that he was unable to work for a long time, suffered from depressive episodes and became a recluse.
Prior to the attack, the Instagram influencer said he was “in the prime of (his) life, physically and mentally” with the “energy of an Energiser Bunny.”
However, the owners of the Bucket List and the security company argued that the bodybuilder had not led the corporate and fitness-oriented lifestyle he portrayed.
Their lawyers alleged that prior to the attack, Mr Chadwick had consumed up to 20 lines of cocaine a week and had taken steroids to maintain his physique.
Instead of being unable to work, they said he pursued multiple business interests and made more than $105,000 by posting photos of himself on the subscription platform OnlyFans.
Mr Chadwick claimed his Rig Fit activewear business had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to his injuries, but Judge Elkaim determined it was ‘not a viable business’.
“I am also not convinced that the plaintiff has been unable to generate an income for most of the time since the injury,” he said.
Judge Elkaim noted that the bodybuilder’s claims of withdrawal from society were “contradicted by his continued involvement in social media, his self-promotion and his activities.”
However, he concluded that Mr. Chadwick was not an “openly dishonest witness.”
“I thought he was a man somewhat misguided by his own image, his ability to be a successful businessman and his perception of what his future would have been without the injury,” the judge explained.
He opined that Mr. Chadwick, who had more than 425,000 followers in his prime, had “post-traumatic stress disorder” that was “gradually disappearing.”
The Supreme Court judge ruled that the “traumatic experience” could have been prevented.
The court heard there was a ‘clear inadequacy of controlling’ drunk people at the bar with ‘no guards available’ if there was an incident like the brawl that broke out.
Mr Martin previously testified that he was ‘too drunk to actually be there’ but was not identified as a problem by staff on site.
“With a good crew, there was a real chance that the fight could have been avoided,” said Judge Elkaim.
The Supreme Court judge ruled that the “traumatic experience” could have been prevented
But Judge Elkaim noted that the bodybuilder’s claims of withdrawal from society were “contradicted by his continued involvement in social media, his self-promotion and his activities.”
Court heard that Mr Chadwick (pictured) made more than $100,000 on OnlyFans
Judge Elkaim awarded Mr Chadwick (pictured on his social media) $200,706.40 for medical bills, past and future economic losses and compensation for his physical injuries from the violent brawl
Judge Elkaim said he was convinced the influencer’s injuries were caused by dereliction of duty on behalf of the bar and security company.
“It was the responsibility of both defendants to monitor and, if necessary, evict Mr. Martin and his group,” he said.
“I am convinced that both defendants knew that the Martin group was misbehaving.”
He awarded Mr. Chadwick $200,706.40 for medical bills, past and future economic losses, and compensation for his physical injuries from the violent brawl.
Bondi Beach Foods and Crossguard Group have also been ordered to pay the influencer’s legal costs.