Commissioner Blair's Suit Against Carrabba's 'Amicably Settled'

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 25, 2007

TAMPA - Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair has settled a lawsuit against a Carrabba's Italian Grill over an injury that he has said ended his wrestling career.

A judge approved a settlement between the restaurant chain and Blair this month.

There was no description of the settlement's terms in court filings, only that the case had been "amicably settled."

Blair declined comment, saying the settlement terms prevented him from making any statements. Attorneys for Carrabba's and Blair did not return messages requesting comment.

Blair filed suit in 2002, saying he tripped over a tray of dirty dishes, injuring his head, shoulder and knee.

The case had been scheduled to go to trial in October. It had been postponed once because Blair's former attorneys withdrew from the case citing "irreconcilable differences."

Attorneys for the restaurant chain indicated in court filings that they planned to attack Blair's claim on at least two fronts: that he had been drinking at the time of the accident and that he wrestled in Japan after the fall.

In March, Blair said the Japan match "was a tag match rather than a singles match."

Carrabba's attorneys also cited a lab report from St. Joseph's Hospital that showed Blair's blood alcohol content was 0.089.

In a portion of a deposition filed this year, Blair was questioned about whether he took prescription or over-the-counter medications the day of the accident. He said in the sworn statement that he didn't recall taking any medication that day and that he didn't remember taking any more than a "swallow" from a glass of red wine.

Blair, 50, was a member of the Killer Bees, a professional wrestling tandem.

The lawsuit preceded Blair's election to the Hillsborough County Commission in 2004.

Reporter Anthony McCartney can be reached at (813) 259-7616 or amccartney@tampatrib.com.