Police found John Parisi unresponsive inside his apartment at 339 Harbor Rd. at about 8 a.m. April 10, after a 911 caller said he had hit his head on the table and was knocked unconscious, according to a police source. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- His family said John Parisi was a gentle soul devoted to his kin and friends.
But Parisi's life ended suddenly 10 months ago, when his roommate allegedly punched him during an apparent argument over food in their community residence in Mariners Harbor. Both men were developmentally disabled, said authorities.
The city medical examiner ruled Parisi's death a homicide.
Parisi's grieving family contends in a lawsuit that the city and the social-service organization which both oversee the residence, failed to protect Parisi, 45, from harm.
In addition, the defendants should have been aware of the violent tendencies of Parisi's assailant, Arben Klobocista, court papers allege.
"The family is still having a difficult time dealing with this. That's why they want us to pursue this matter and get answers about what happened to their loved one," said lawyer Glen Devora, of the Eltingville firm, Jonathan D'Agostino & Associates.
The action, recently filed in state Supreme Court, seeks unspecified monetary damages. It was brought by Parisi's brother, Peter Parisi, the administrator of his estate.
Named as defendants are the city, Volunteers of America, Klobocista, Harbor Manor Apartments and Sharp Management Corp. The latter two defendants are identified in court papers as the premises' owner, operator and manager.
Parisi was a Volunteers of America client, an agency spokeswoman told the Advance.
According to court filings and a law enforcement source, Klobocista, then 37, told cops he punched Parisi twice after Parisi tried to take his Chicken McNuggets.
Police found Parisi unresponsive inside his apartment at 339 Harbor Road about 8 a.m. after a 911 caller said he had hit his head on the table and was knocked unconscious, said the source.
The medical examiner determined that Parisi died when he was beaten and suffered a heart attack.
Klobocista was arrested after the incident and charged with misdemeanor assault, said a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan. His has denied the allegations and his case is pending in state Stapleton Criminal Court, according to online state court records. He is free on his own recognizance.
The source said prosecutors must evaluate Klobocista's state of mind and the extent of his developmental disability as the case proceeds.
In his obituary, Parisi's family described the Island native as a "loving, sweet soul" devoted to family and friends.
He was a graduate of the Hungerford School and was attending classes at the College of Staten Island shortly before his death. He worked through Volunteers of America, they said.
A Volunteers of America spokeswoman declined comment on the lawsuit.
A city Law Department spokeswoman said the city recently received the legal papers and is reviewing them.
Sharp Management said Volunteers of America rented the unit, which is among a row of townhouse apartments, and referred all inquiries to the agency.
Attempts to obtain a phone listing for Harbor Manor Apartments were unsuccessful.