Doctor compensated by Montreal for Bar Mitzvah 'disaster'

Dr. Peter Neumann says only a Hollywood screenplay could do justice to the events that unfolded at his grandson's Bar Mitzvah.

"It was a complete disaster," said Neumann, a Dollard des Ormeaux pediatrician.

"It was so tragic that it was comical."

Alexander Neumann's August 2003 Bar Mitzvah was supposed to be a special ceremony signifying the start of his religious responsibility.

Hundreds of family and friends were on hand to celebrate the event, which took place at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre.

But a remarkable storyline that included a drunken city employee, a malfunctioning elevator and near-fatal heart attack turned the Bar Mitzvah into a nightmare.

The city later tried to defend itself by stating Alexander was not even Jewish, an allegation the judge called "unfounded" and "an unnecessary source of distress to the plaintiff," a release sent by Neumann's lawyer said.

In March, Neumann won $22,000 — plus five-per-cent interest — in a lawsuit against the City of Montreal for damages stemming primarily from the actions of an inebriated employee.

Neumann, who paid more than $1,000 to rent the hall, said the custodian's rude behaviour ruined the celebration.

The man, who has since been fired, removed ice from the ice machine and tried to sell it back to the patrons.

He also tried to end the party early at 10:20 p.m., threatening to lock everyone inside even though the rental agreement stated the centre was available until 2 a.m.

The city employee was so drunk by 3 p.m. he could barely speak, a witness told The Chronicle in a March 2004 interview.

"He was drinking before my party," Neumann said. "He got drunk all on his own.

"He was a drunkard who had five previous complaints against him and each time was saved by the union."

Adding to the drama, the centre's elevator stopped several times, trapping people between floors, he said.

Toward the end of the evening, the piano player suffered a heart attack due to the stress of the night's events and stopped breathing.

"He was dead on the floor until I revived him," said Neumann.

The piano player, who survived, was taken to the Lakeshore General Hospital, he added.

In a letter sent to Neumann in February, Pierrefonds/Roxboro director general Jacques Chan admitted to the allegations and apologized. The note came years after the case went to court.

"For four years, they put me through hell and incredible legal expense to fight them," said Neumann.

"We are very happy that it's over and very happy that we were vindicated in every single statement that we made. They admitted that they were at fault."