By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – An attorney says CLP Franchise Corporation and a McDonald's security guard will appeal a jury award of $250,000 to a Birmingham man. Brian Martin was apparently stabbed in the back by security guard Eddie Lee Kindred. Court records say the two got into a fight in 2002 concerning parking outside the McDonald's on Sixth Avenue North. Martin's lung was punctured after the confrontation. He filed a personal injury lawsuit in 2003. Jurors found Kindred responsible for assaulting Martin and for malicious prosecution against him in a city court case. Kindred and CLP Corporation were ordered to pay $100,000 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages. Kindred was convicted of assault in circuit court and sentenced to 15 years but was ordered to serve three years probation. CLP has denied the allegations and maintains the evidence did not support the verdict.