Florida man sues Gingrich, alleging assault

By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Republican candidate Newt Gingrich, who lost this week’s Florida primary to Mitt Romney, now is the target of an assault and battery lawsuit filed by a Ron Paul supporter, according to published reports.

Edward Dillard of Windermere, Fla., who filed a suit Friday in U.S. District Court, said he was standing at a polling place Tuesday in a Ron Paul T-shirt and holding a  Ron Paul sign when Gingrich and his wife, Callista, approached him and shook his hand, TMZ reported.

Dillard said when Gingrich noticed his sign he quickly turned to greet others. He said several men from Gingrich’s entourage tried to use intimidation to get him  to move to another spot. Dillard, who was wearing open-toed sandals, said one man fractured his right foot after stomping on it "like he was stomping out a cigarette," TMZ said, citing the lawsuit.

In addition to the former U.S. House speaker from Georgia, Dillard is suing Gingrich’s campaign and the security firm staffing his detail. He is seeking unspecified damages.

The Gingrich campaign had not responded to the suit.