A Hattiesburg man has sued the city, its police department and several officers, alleging they beat him hard enough to break his spine.

The injury left him paralyzed, according to a notice of claim letter filed along with Jordan Chase Borgognoni’s lawsuit in Forrest County Circuit Court.

Borgognoni seeks unspecified actual, economic, non-economic, compensatory, exemplary, punitive and other damages.

The complaint alleges officers responded to a call at 3500 Hardy St. in reference to a report of a domestic disturbance on July 23, 2012.

The police report states Borgognoni used profanity to officers when they arrived, according to the complaint, which represents one side of a legal dispute.

“Upon information and belief, this protected First Amendment language agitated the officers and caused them to become angry with the Plaintiff,” the complaint states.

The officers arrested Borgognoni on a domestic violence simple assault charge, then allegedly threw him to the ground, kicked him and jumped on his back while he was restrained, according to the complaint.

“At that time, Plaintiff yelped in pain and stated he could not feel his legs,” the complaint states. “… Plaintiff yelled out asking for medical assistance because he could not feel or move his legs.”

The document accuses the officers of taking Borgognoni to the Forrest County Jail instead of seeking medical attention. An ambulance was called upon arrival at the jail.

The suit claims negligence; gross negligence; negligent hiring, supervision and control; and conspiracy, civil rights violations and other torts.

Efforts to reach Borgognoni’s attorneys, Dennis Sweet and Terris Harris, were unsuccessful.

City of Hattiesburg Attorney Charles Lawrence said he has not yet seen the lawsuit, as the city has yet to be served with the complaint.

He said specialized counsel is typically retained for defense in such matters via the city’s liability coverage.