The Times-Dispatch is reporting the famed reggae singer has settled in a lawsuit agianst one of RVA’s biggest event organizers, Venture Richmond.
The Times-Dispatch is reporting the famed reggae singer has settled in a lawsuit agianst one of RVA’s biggest event organizers, Venture Richmond.
Toots was in town back in 2013 as part of Venture Richmond’s annual Friday Cheers event. Towards the end of a cover of John Denver’s “Country Roads,” this happened (watch the video here):
The bottle was thrown by Henrico man William C. Lewis, who claimed he’d consumed two beers and two vodka shots before stealing the bottle from a vender and then hurling it at Toots on accident.
The bottle managed to split the skin on the singers forehead, leading to about $30K in medical bills, but also putting the 70-year-old Jamaica native in a terrible mental state where he hasn’t been able to tour or perform live since.
At least that’s what court filings suggest.
The folks at Venture Richmond say they gave Toots a ride home from the hospital and he was “jovial and laughing and showed no signs of pain or emotional distress,” during the drive.
Meanwhile, Toot’s attorneys say he “has not been able to praise God in song as has been his passion and calling,” for three years, according to filings.
The bottle thrower, Lewis, was given 12 months in jail with 6 months suspended, and Toots even wrote to the judge asking for a light sentence (which is cool and all, but what the hell?).
Specific details about the settlement aren’t available, and the folks at Venture told the TD they had no comment.
