Haley Barbour Jr. is sued, accused of assaulting a man in D.C.

A man who claims he was assaulted last year by the son of former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

Kurtis King, of Bethesda, Maryland, says Haley Reeves Barbour Jr. punched him roughly 12 times in the face and head after King “complimented” Barbour’s wife on the night of April 30, 2015.

According to the lawsuit, King sustained “numerous cuts and bruises on his face, neck, arms and knees” and his “nose was bleeding excessively and was visibly out of place.” King was taken by ambulance from downtown Washington to George Washington University Hospital, where was treated for a fractured nose, the lawsuit says.

Barbour has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with significant bodily injury stemming from the incident. The case is scheduled for a jury trial Nov. 15 before Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring. If convicted, Barbour could face several years in jail.

According to King’s lawsuit, he and several friends were in a downtown office when they walked by Barbour’s wife, who appeared to be standing alone. King “complimented her appearance” and kept walking when he heard someone behind him shouting “and making fun of his hairstyle,” the suit claims.

King turned and allegedly saw Barbour running toward him. King’s lawsuit claims that Barbour attacked him and that he did not fight back but took cover in a fetal position.

The lawsuit claims that Barbour, his wife and one of their friends then took off on foot in different directions. One of King’s friends followed Barbour into a nearby bar, where Barbour was later arrested after allegedly meeting up with his wife and their other friend.

King is seeking damages for “severe mental anguish,” medical costs and loss of income.

Barbour’s attorney, Marlon C. Griffith, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Haley Barbour Jr. is sued, accused of assaulting a man in D.C.."