THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995           TAG: 9509140385
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

JUDGE RULES WILDER SUIT AGAINST GUARD CAN'T CONTINUE IN VIRGINIA

Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder cannot pursue in Virginia a lawsuit against a former security guard accused of roughing him up in the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, a judge has ruled.

Richmond Circuit Judge T.J. Markow said Monday the former guard, who lives in North Carolina, does not have sufficient ties with Virginia to be sued in the state's courts.

Wilder alleges the guard shoved and choked him March 7. The scuffle happened after Wilder, who said he was treated rudely after a clip on his suspenders set off a metal detector, tried to read the guard's name tag.

The guard was fired the same day.

Wilder filed a $5 million lawsuit on June 15 against the guard; his employer, Globe Security of Irving, Texas; USAir of Arlington, which hired Globe Security to provide guards at the airport; and the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority.

The lawsuit alleges assault and battery, false imprisonment and negligence. Wilder is seeking $3 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages.

Markow will rule later on a request that the lawsuit against the other defendants be moved to Arlington.

Lawyers for the airline argued Monday that a trial in Richmond would be inconvenient because so many of the witnesses work in Arlington. Defense lawyers also said they believe a Richmond jury could be biased because Wilder is a prominent local resident.

Wilder's lawyer, Roger L. Gregory, said there was no indication Wilder would have an advantage here.

KEYWORDS: LAWSUIT by CNB