Horrific injuries: Antonio Lopez Chaj lost half his skull after being attacked by an unlicensed bouncer as he tried to break up a pub brawl (Picture: AP)

A painter and decorator who lost half his skull after being beaten unconscious in a Los Angeles pub brawl has been awarded $58million (£38.2million) in compensation.

Antonio Lopez Chaj suffered severe brain damage in the attack and can no longer speak, a court heard.

The 43-year-old was beaten up by an unlicensed bouncer as he tried to stop a fight between his drinking pals and a bartender. The security guard beat Mr Chaj with a baton, kicked him in the head eight times and smashed his skull against the pavement four times.

His successful damages claim – awarded by a Torrance superior court jury last week – is one of the biggest ever payouts awarded in California, his lawyers said yesterday.




Mr Chaj had to be physically supported by relatives at a news conference where details of the compensation award were revealed.

As he took off a baseball cap that was hiding his injuries, gasps were heard from the journalists present.

‘His (Mr Chaj’s) skull is like a pie with 25 per cent cut out of it,’ said lawyer Frederico Sayre, who represented Mr Chaj along with Fernando Chavez, son of the famed US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.

‘It was truly a horrendous and brutal beating by a guy who shouldn’t have been working at all,’ added Mr Sayre.

Brain damage: Mr Chaj can no longer speak and needs 24-hour nursing after suffering brain damage in the attack (Picture: AP)

The bouncer and bartender, who sparked the attack in April 2010, have disappeared without a trace, said the attorney.

He said Mr Chaj, his brother and two nephews, had gone to Barra Latina, in the Wilshire suburb of LA, for a few drinks after work when the violence erupted.

One of Mr Chaj’s relatives got into a dispute with the bartender, who donned a knuckle-duster to attack the man.

Bouncer Emerson Quintanilla, who worked for DGSP Security and Patrol Services, then waded into the brawl and started kicking and punching punters, said Mr Sayre.

Mr Chaj tried to intervene and he was beaten unconscious by Quintanilla.

‘Part of Mr Chaj’s skull was gone when he reached the hospital,’ said Mr Sayre.

‘They saved his life but he has significant brain damage. He can’t speak and he requires 24-hour nursing care,’ he added.

Help: Relatives support Mr Chaj as he arrives at a press conference in Los Angeles, where details of his damages win was announced by his lawyers (Picture: AP)

Mr Sayre said of Quintanilla: ‘I think the man went crazy… lost his mind. It was a species of road rage.’

Mr Chaj faces more surgery, the court heard.

A jury found unanimously for the plaintiff and awarded him the massive payout to help him meet medical costs and receive round-the-clock care he will need for the rest of his life.

But Mr Sayre said he expects the security firm to appeal the ruling and revealed it may request settlement negotiations before Mr Chaj receives any compensation.

Support: Fernando Chavez, attorney and oldest son of late labor leader Cesar Chavez with Mr Chaj (Picture: AP )