Country music artist Chris Cagle, shown in this Oct. 17, 2000, file photo in Nashville, Tenn. Cagle was cited for misdemeanor assault after allegedly punching a concertgoer's boyfriend in Tucson. Cagle is accused of hitting the man after the man's girlfriend got upset when the 39-year-old country singer declined to sign an autograph after a charity benefit show early Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, police spokesman Sgt. Mark Robinson said.
A Tucson man is suing country music artist Chris Cagle in connection with an altercation late last year at a local nightclub.
Mark Barry’s lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in Pima County Superior Court, accuses Cagle and his sound man, Kenneth Hoyt, of assault and battery.
The lawsuit doesn’t specify the amount of damages requested, but Cagle’s attorney in a related criminal case said Barry may be seeking up to $250,000.
Cagle was charged with misdemeanor assault at the Cactus Moon, 5470 E. Broadway, in December after performing at a benefit.
According to police, Cagle punched Barry in the face after Barry’s girlfriend became “verbally abusive” toward Cagle.
Police spokesman Sgt. Mark Robinson said the woman was angry after Cagle refused to sign an autograph for her after previously signing several other autographs for her.
Cagle was cited and released.
Cagle wasn’t in Tucson Municipal Court on Thursday morning for a scheduled hearing.
Cagle’s attorney, Bradley J. Armstrong of Tucson, requested a delay because Cagle was being served with the civil lawsuit Thursday.
Judge Margarita Bernal reset the hearing for April 21.
Armstrong said Cagle was acting in self-defense and Hoyt as his bodyguard when the altercation took place.
Hoyt broke his wrist, Armstrong said.
Cagle is touring to support his new album, “My Life’s Been a Country Song,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard when it was released last month. Cagle’s hits include “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out,” “Laredo,” “Miss Me Baby,” “Country by the Grace of God,” “What a Beautiful Day” and “Chicks Dig It.”
Armstrong said Cagle will discuss the Cactus Moon incident at 10 a.m. Saturday on country music cable network CMT’s “Country Insider” program.