Actor Disfigured in Darien Bar Fight: Lawsuit

DARIEN, CT — A Darien actor is suing Chez Ernie's bar along with a man who reportedly assaulted him in December.

Matthew Porretta, 51, was struck by a glass mug in the head by Norwalk man Christopher Aikler for unknown reasons, according to the lawsuit.

"...Aikler, a trained mixed martial arts fighter, smashed Matthew Porretta in the face with his beer mug, without any provocation and with such force as to shatter the beer mug," the lawsuit states.

Aikler was charged with assault for the incident; his criminal case is pending. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities click here.)

Porretta is seeking more than $15,000 in damages, according to the March lawsuit. Steven Palmer is also listed as a defendant.

Porretta played Robin Hood in the 1997 "The New Adventures of Robin Hood" TV series and also was cast as Will Scarlet O'Hara in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." Other credits include "Beverly Hills 90210" and several other TV shows and video game voice acting appearances.

Related: Man Arrested After Severe Assault at Chez Ernie's in Darien: PD

Porretta sustained injuries to his eye, including a laceration. He also fractured his nasal bone, sustained lacerations to his face and fractured his face among other injuries.

"I do not know the person who hit me and all I remember was waking up on the ground covered in blood on my hands and face," Porretta said in an affidavit.

He had eye surgery to salvage his eyeball but will likely require future surgeries and has suffered permanent disfiguration.

Aikler and Palmer's representatives didn't respond to a request for comment from Darien News.

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