Jury Awards New Jersey Gay Couple $3.15 Million In Gay Bashing; Couple Chased And Beaten In Burger King By Staff Following Dispute Over Order

The New Jersey Star Ledger reports that a Hudson County jury has awarded a gay Union City couple $3.15 million after the two men, 43 year old Peter Casbar and 46 year old Noel Robichaux, were chased and beaten following a dispute over their order at an area Burger King. Casbar and Robichaux testified during the civil trial that began February 7th, saying the dispute with the person taking their order in the 2007 incident escalated and other Burger King workers became involved after they had already left the restaurant. "The manager and a group of angry restaurant employees chased the couple and then mercilessly kicked, beat and spat upon the two men while screaming hate-filled anti-gay invectives," the couple’s attorney, James F. Fine said in a statement. The couple had alleged they were victims of a violent hate crime and brought the suit under New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination. The jury rendered its verdict early Wednesday evening and the award includes $1.7 in punitive damages. The $3.15 million must be paid by Food Service Properties Corp. and Union City Restaurant Corp. which own seven Burger Kings, including the one at 3501 Bergenline Ave. in Union City. Angel Caraballo and Christopher Soto, two employees of the Union City Burger King, have already pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in connection to the attack on Casbar and Robichaux. Fine added that “Violence against anybody, including gay people, cannot be condoned. The jury spoke to this issue,” adding that "It was devastating to them. We assert this was a gay bashing. They thought that they were going to die."