Spin Class Injuries No Laughing Matter

It was an enraged fellow spin class member that knocked him and his exercise bike into a wall at the Equinox Gym on East 86th St. in August, but now it's Stuart Sugarman who is very angry!

The 48-year-old hedge fund manager is furious that city prosecutors are only charging 44-year-old broker Christopher Carter with a misdemeanor in the incident, which occurred after Carter asked Sugarman to tone down ("Shut the f--- up!") his vocal exuberance ("You go girl!") and the whooping spinner declined ("Don't be a baby.")

The criminal complaint filed against Carter only mentions "sustained lower back pain" and "substantial pain," while Sugarman insists "This wasn't just a playground fall where Stewy fell down and went boo hoo," according to the New York Post. Sugarman spent two weeks at Lenox Hill Hospital and underwent back surgery to treat contusions to six vertebra with metal plates, screws, and cadaver tissue. His doctor claims that Sugarman was "one click away from a wheelchair."

Sugarman also suffered a concussion when Carter pushed him and the exercise bike into a wall. Adding insult to injury, Equinox left Sugarman a voicemail while he was in the hospital informing him that his gym membership had been canceled. Carter's lawyer claims that Sugarman is attempting to manipulate the criminal justice system in preparation for a civil suit.

We can't help but think that if this story is ever adapted for the screen, Sugarman could be well-played by Donnie Wahlberg, and Vince Vaughn would make a good casting choice as Carter.

(Photos of Sugarman and Carter from the New York Post)

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Dave Hogarty in News on September 18, 2007 12:16 PM

Comments [rss]

JST Books

Personal injury compensation is a payment you get when you have sustained a personal injury due to someone elseÂ´s negligence or lack of care. There's lots of ways in which someone can be liable for your injuries, with the most common personal injury compensation claims being for injuries sustained in road traffic accidents, at work or due to slip, trip or fall.

guest

It appears neither has been to a gym since the incident.

guest

SOS

Boys will be boys,

For they have quirks;

And what about men?

Men will be jerks.

guest

In the old days I would prefer Howe and Hume.

guest

The firm of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe are the obvious lawyers for this case.

guest

Whose the girlyman here? I think contusions are a very splint oriented injury.

If anyone else on this forum has that same problem please call our office, Cohen, Wasserman, McDonald, Scopetta, La Pierre, Gonzalez and Von Eyssen. We don't charge anything except actual costs if you don't win your settlement.

guest

The DA's office is laughing.

guest

Sugarman may or may not be a douchebag, but Carter had no right to assault him. If Sugarman was injured so badly he had to get "metal plates, screws, and cadaver tissue", which he may have for the rest of his life, there's no way Carter should walk away with a misdemeanor. Carter needs to be held accountable for his actions.

maevemealone

How the hell do you have surgery to repair contusions?! ie BRUISES!!!! Pussys all of them...

Tim N.

"This wasn't just a playground fall where Stewy fell down and went boo hoo."

Tell me he didn't just refer to himself in the third person???!!! God, what an a**hole. This is why yuppies should be rounded up and penned.

guest

no spinning classes! yeah! because musclehead men are never to be fit but with other men...how homoerotic of you!

guest

You know how I know you're gay?

You take spinning classes.

guest

Is this a hate crime? Because everything about "You go girl" Sugarman (sugar man?) screams gay.

Mike D

#11 is totally right. This raises everyone's taxes and insurance rates.

Whatever happened to duels? 20 paces at dawn? They seem so civilized in retrospect.

guest

Douche Fest '07

JRod5417

I think Ben Stiller is a better choice as the Sugarman character. He can recycle the facial hair from Dodgeball.

guest

white people

guest

where are the brains This story is the sad and pathetic story of muscles as brain

guest

That guy's cheesy facial hair and receding hairline say it all.

guest

I have no idea who to root for here. Let them kill each other - who loses from that scenario?

Peter

If we could post images in comments I'd post a picture of two douche bags.

guest

#9, These guys and their lawyers are the kinds of people that drive up insurance costs for everyone else.

garbnzgh

tone down not "tone done"

ThisCharmingMan

I don't care if the upper crust beats each other to death. Who cares? They can afford to fix themselves, and pay for whatever justice they require.