Man Suing LI Hookah Lounge, Claiming It Allowed His Assault

WESTBURY, NY — A Brooklyn man is suing Mystique Hookah Lounge, claiming that the establishment is complicit in an assault that happened to him on the premises in 2019. He claims that Mystique over-served patrons alcohol and allowed them to become drunk, which led to the assault.

According to the complaint filed in Kings County Supreme Court, Jamel Johns was at the hookah lounge, which is located at 973 Old Country Road in Westbury, on Jan. 12, 2019 when he was assaulted. The suit claims he was attacked by a "mob" of drunk people. He received cuts and bruising to his left arm and hand, and a slash on his left forearm that he claims required surgery.

The complaint alleges that Mystique Hookah Lounge is responsible because its staff was not properly trained and served the patrons alcohol, despite them being visibly drunk. The suit also alleges that Mystique did not provide proper training to its staff, and did not hire security personnel to keep patrons safe.

The suit says that, as a result of the attack, Johns "suffered and continues to suffer extensive physical, mental and emotional injuries, embarrassment and humiliation, has been rendered·sick, sore and disabled..."

Johns is seeking unspecified damages in the suit. The suit wants payment for all damages sustained, plus interest, along with "further relief that this court deems just and proper."