Portland man James Han is seeking $415,000 in damages from TriMet, alleging he was assaulted by two security guards on a MAX train in October, according to a December lawsuit in Multnomah County Court. KATU reported the incident occurred after Han, a funeral director, reportedly bumped into a guard while returning from work.
Han’s attorney alleges the guards, contracted by Portland Patrol Inc. (PPI), committed battery, assault, and negligence. One guard allegedly “violently grabbed” Han, while the other put him in a chokehold and then tried to force him into a seat after sweeping his legs out from under him at the Gateway Transit Center. Fox 12 reports that Han’s lawyer described him hitting his head against a window during the incident.
TriMet, while not commenting on ongoing litigation, confirmed the officers are employed by Portland Patrol Inc. (PPI), contract security for its network, not TriMet employees as the lawsuit initially claimed, according to FOX 12. KOIN 6 reports that plaintiff’s attorney Michael Fuller has accused TriMet of failing to properly train its guards and is seeking witnesses to the incident…