Ridpath’s Negligence Led To Attack On Knievel, Jurors Told Jury Resumes Deliberations After Knievel’s Attorney Describes Paulsen’s Alleged Attack

When a Ridpath Hotel desk clerk handed “a crazed bully” the key to Evel Knievel’s room, it was like opening floodgates, lawyers for the former motorcycle daredevil said Tuesday.

“But for the key, none of the rest would have happened,” Spokane attorney George Diana argued.

What happened, according to Diana, was a punishing surprise attack on Knievel inside his 10th-floor room on Sept. 11, 1989.

That night, confessed cocaine dealer Clarence “Cip” Paulsen III is accused of beating up Knievel in a fit of jealousy after finding him in bed with Paulsen’s ex-girlfriend.

The invasion of privacy case went to trial last week in Spokane County Superior Court.

During his closing argument Tuesday, Diana asked for $130,000 in economic damages and an additional unspecified sum for emotional distress.

The seven-woman, five-man jury resumes deliberations this morning. The panel was sent home for the night after reviewing evidence for about three hours.

Paulsen denied laying a hand on Knievel, describing him as a friend and drinking companion.

Attorney Michael Nelson, representing the Ridpath and WestCoast Hotels Inc., also claimed Knievel and Paulsen were pals.

That’s why the desk clerk gave Paulsen the key that night, he said.

While that move violated the hotel’s privacy rules, Nelson said nobody could have foreseen the alleged attack.

He argued that Knievel is partially responsible for whatever happened because he is “an excitement seeker” who enjoys rubbing elbows with unsavory characters.

Diana sharply rebutted that claim.

He said Knievel, during frequent golfing trips to Spokane, did his best to avoid Paulsen, a nuisance and “hanger-on.”

“These guys aren’t friends,” Diana said. “Those are the pipe dreams of this hotel, trying to slime the victim. … It’s a crying shame.”

Knievel, 56, maintains he suffered black eyes, a bloodied nose and grapefruit-sized bruises on his upper body in the attack.

He said Paulsen, 35, unlocked the door and lunged at him.

Knievel told the jury he broke away from the larger man and ended the fight by grabbing his .357-caliber Magnum revolver, forcing Paulsen to leave.

While Knievel never filed criminal charges, he filed his lawsuit against the hotel the following year.

Nelson said fair compensation for the famous plaintiff, if the jury believes his story, is $422 - Knievel’s unpaid hotel bill.