A woman who was shot twice on a New Jersey horse farm in August has sued ex-Olympian Michael Barisone and his company over the bloody incident, according to a report.
Lauren Kanarek, 39, filed the lawsuit Friday in Superior Court in Morris County claiming that Barisone — who was on the US dressage team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics — shot her on his upscale 53-acre equestrian Hawthorne Farm in Long Valley on Aug. 7, NJ.com reported.
“Without warning or provocation, defendant Barisone shot Kanarek in the chest multiple times at point-blank range,” the suit said according to the outlet.
And before the shooting Barisone, 54, and his associates allegedly waged “an extended and protracted campaign” of harassment against Kanarek and her fiancé, Robert Goodwin, the report said.
Robert Goodwin was seen in Morristown County court with a cast on his arm in August after suffering a broken wrist tying to fight off Michael Barisone.Richard HarbusKanarek — an award winning equestrian — and Goodwin had reportedly been involved in a rent dispute with Barisone leading up to the bloody attack. The couple had moved from North Carolina in 2018 so that Kanarek could study under Barisone.
Goodwin narrowly avoided getting shot himself before he tackled Barisone to the ground, suffering a broken wrist, The Post reported at the time.
Cops had been called to the farm several times before the melee, they said at the time.
The suit also claims that a barn manager and several other employees shouldn’t have allowed there to be a firearm on the grounds, NJ.com reported.
Barisone was criminally charged with attempted murder and weapons possession and is being held without bail.
Kanarek — who has been active on Facebook since Aug. 31 — said in a Sept. 30 post that she is healing and that “Physical Therapy will become RIDING in a matter of weeks. Not months.
“Someone asked me if I’m “retiring,” from Dressage! #HellNo #WhatDoesntKillMeMakesMe ……. #STRONGER,” the post continued.
Kanarek’s suit said that she suffered permanent injuries and she is seeking damages for medical costs as well as for emotional and physical pain and suffering, the outlet reported.
Barisone’s lawyer, Edward Bilinkas, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Kanarek did not immediately return a phone message.
