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Michael Douglas Sued in Injury to Caddy By GREG B. SMITH Daily News Staff Writer Friday, August 07, 1998

DAILY NEWS SCANDAL SHEET

Hollywood superstar Michael Douglas yesterday denied a lawsuit claim that one of his golf shots permanently injured a caddy in Westchester.

Douglas acknowledged he was in a foursome at the Elmwood Country Club on Oct. 20, 1997, when a ball struck James Parker, 48, but said it wasn't his shot that hit the caddy.

Parker filed an $85 million personal injury suit in Manhattan Federal Court yesterday that says he hasn't been able to work since that day.

The suit contends that Parker walked ahead of the foursome on the course so he could see where the balls landed.

For eight holes, there was no problem. On the ninth, however, Parker said Douglas appeared to be "restless" as the caddy went ahead. Parker contends that Douglas, without yelling "Fore!" whacked a ball toward him.

As Parker turned, the ball struck his genitals, rupturing a testicle, which later had to be removed, the suit says. Parker, who is black, says Douglas then stuffed $60 in his pocket and used a racial epithet to refer to him.

Douglas, through his publicist Allen Burry, denied Parker's account.

"He's absolutely stunned that anybody would make anything more out of it and have him hitting the ball," Burry said.

Burry said another member of the group, Mark Drach, hit the ball that struck Parker.

Burry also said that after the incident, "There were no negative comments by Michael or anybody else," and that Douglas ran to Parker's aid.

In the lawsuit, Parker acknowledged that Drach said he hit the ball but characterized the statement as a coverup.

Parker also contends that Douglas called him to see how he was doing after the injury, but hung up when Parker told him of the seriousness of his wound.

Parker's lawyer, Christopher Thompson, said his client is certain Douglas hit the shot.

"He hasn't been able to work since this happened, and quite frankly he lost a testicle," Thompson said. "He's got some real damages here."



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