The Muse Sued For $1 Million Over 2023 Bouncer Brawl

A New York man involved in a violent brawl with two bouncers at The Muse in July 2023 has filed a lawsuit against the Surfside Road establishment and the bouncers involved, seeking $1.05 million in damages. The man bringing the legal action against The Muse claims that he suffered permanent and life-altering injuries during the brawl, including partial blindness and severe trauma to his head and neck. Those injuries, according to the lawsuit, mean he can no longer continue his career as a pilot or maintain his pilot's license due to the vision loss.

Kote Antaidze, of Morewood Drive, New York, is the man who filed the lawsuit against Michael Kelly and Rudolph Thompson, who were the bouncers involved, The Muse (aka Mingo Corp.), and Island Management Inc, the entity that owns and controls the Muse property at 44 Surfside Road, and owner Michael B. O’Reilly.

The two bouncers were originally charged several months after the incident in October of 2023 and arraigned in Nantucket District Court in December of 2023. They were found not guilty following a multi-day trial in October of 2025. Antaidze is seeking $50,000 in damages for hospital expenses and $1 million in damages for the injuries he suffered. 

“This is a civil action for damages arising out of a brutal and unprovoked assault and battery committed by agents and employees of defendant, The Muse, including but not limited to defendants Michael Kely and Rudolph Thompson, upon the Plaintiff, a patron, causing permanent and life-altering injuries to his vision, loss of livelihood, pain and suffering, and economic loss,” the lawsuit states. “This action further arises from defendants' negligent service of alcohol, negligent training and supervision of security personnel, and failure to maintain a reasonably safe premises for patrons.”

According to the lawsuit, Antaidze arrived at The Muse on July 9, 2023 with two friends at approximately 9:30 p.m. Two hours later at around 11:30 p.m., Antaidze claims that he was exiting The Muse and observed his friend speaking with some females near the exit/entrance area while saying good night when he saw an unknown man with friends in the same area.

“(They) emitted a strong odor of alcohol, appeared visibly intoxicated, and exhibited signs of belligerence,” the lawsuit says. “The Muse negligently provided and continued to provide alcoholic beverages to the unknown drunken patron at a time when it knew or reasonably should have known that he was intoxicated. Without provocation or justification, the unknown intoxicated patron suddenly approached Kote's friend and struck him in the face with his fist."

Antaidze claims in his lawsuit that he “immediately and reasonably de-escalated the altercation” before he and his two friends began to walk away from The Muse.

But as they were walking away, Antaidze alleges that Muse employees – including Kelly and Thompson – suddenly appeared and attacked Kote and his friends.

“At the time defendants Thompson and Kelly initiated physical force, the altercation had fully ceased, no threat existed, and (Antaidze) was compliant, non-violent, and attempting to exit the premises,” the lawsuit says. “Defendant's Kelly and Thompson violently punched Kote, threw him to the ground, and repeatedly kicked him with shod feet, including kicks to the head and face. The attack upon Kote was immediate, unprovoked, unwarranted, and brutal, both in duration and ferocity.”

A portion of the altercation was captured on video that was obtained by the Current in 2023:

O'Reilly, The Muse's owner, did not return a message seeking comment about the legal action.

Antaidze and his attorneys stated in the lawsuit that after the brawl, he began to exhibit obvious signs of serious injury, including head trauma, severe eye pain, disorientation, and distress.

“(Antaidze) suffered a concussion, severe ocular trauma, and permanent vision damage including retinal damage/optic nerve injury/orbital fracture,” the lawsuit claims. “As a direct result of defendants' conduct, Kote has suffered permanent vision impairment that disqualifies him from federally regulated aviation activities and will no longer have the ability to pilot airplanes or maintain his pilot's license.”

The lawsuit also claims that The Muse failed to call for medical assistance promptly or to render aid to Antaidze.

“Defendants instead left (Antaidze) injured on the premises without providing reasonable assistance, delaying necessary medical evaluation and treatment,” the lawsuit alleges. “Defendants knew or should have known that Kote required immediate medical attention and that delay posed a substantial risk of further harm.”

There are seven counts in the lawsuit, including: 

1) Assault & Battery by Thompson and Kelly.

2) Negligence by Mingo Corp, Island Management Inc, and Michael O’Reilly.

3) Negligence by Kelly.

4) Negligence by Thompson.

5) "Respondeat Superior" by Mingo Corp., and Island Management Inc.. This is a legal rule of law that holds employers and principals legally responsible for the wrongful acts or negligence of their employees.

6) Negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention against Mingo Corp. and Michael O’Reilly.

7) "Dram shop" negligent service of alcohol against Mingo Corp., Island Management Inc., and Michael O’Reilly. This is a law that holds commercial establishments such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores legally liable if they negligently serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons or minors, who then cause injuries or death to third parties as a result of the service.

The lawsuit is asking the court to enter judgment for Antaidze; award him damages in an amount determined by the court, as well as interest, costs, and attorney fees; and award such other relief as the court deems just and proper. Antaidze is demanding a jury trial on all triable issues.