A civil suit has been launched involving Calgary Flames’ forward prospect Michael Ferland and Cochranite Jayson Eyma.
Ferland was found not guilty of assault June 17, as he was acting in self-defence in an incident that took place outside the Stageline Saloon (now Texas Gate) July 29, 2012.
The Brandon, Man. native was accused of striking a man in the face, fracturing the orbital bone around his eye and knocking him unconscious in front of the bar; Ferland was charged with assault against Wesley Bunn and aggravated assault against Jayson Eyma.
Eyma sued the hockey player in June, claiming that Ferland ‘sucker-punched’ him in the face, fracturing a bone that required surgery.
In response, Ferland has filed a countersuit seeking damages for the fight and for malicious prosecution; he responded to the lawsuit July 28, noting his acquittal for the criminal charges.
“Mr. Ferland relied on the jury in the criminal case to see what really happened that night and his being found not guilty speaks for itself,” said Ferland’s lawyer, Michael Bates, in a recent press release.
‘If testifying before a second jury is what it will take to find justice in the civil case, my client is fully prepared for that.”
Eyma can now file his defence to Ferland’s allegations.
Ferland played in the minors last season.
