A US tourist who survived a brutal attack in Dublin last summer is embroiled in a legal battle with his son over €120,000 raised on GoFundMe.
The Irish Sun on Sunday revealed that Stephen Termini is suing his son, Mike Rizzuto, with the case set to be heard at the Supreme Court of the State of New York later this month.
Termini, representing himself in court, claims that he has not received any of the funds raised for his medical expenses and family travel costs.
Rizzuto has appointed lawyers and is expected to defend the case vigorously.
New Yorker Termini was viciously attacked on Talbot Street in Dublin city centre on July 19, 2023, while on holiday.
The Buffalo man, aged 57, suffered severe injuries and was left fighting for his life in a coma at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
After the incident, his son Rizzuto set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with medical expenses and travel costs for the family to come to Ireland.
Rizzuto and another of Termini’s sons then travelled to Dublin to be at their father’s bedside.
Termini, who suffered severe injuries to his right eye, a brain bleed, and a skull fracture, made a miraculous recovery.
Michael Rizzuto and his father are in a dispute over the money. He hugged and spoke with his sons at the hospital, but the siblings left the country before Termini was discharged last August.
Termini’s legal dispute with Rizzuto centres around the €120,000 raised by 4,600 donors on GoFundMe. Termini claimed he did not receive any money upon his release from the hospital.
Rizzuto said at the time that the donations had never been intended for his father’s personal use, adding that taxes and other expenses would have to be covered before any decisions about the money could be made.
Termini initially lodged papers about the case with the Erie County Clerk last November and was recently informed of the court date. He has now taken his dispute and claim to court, which Rizzuto is expected to contest vigorously.
Speaking to The Irish Sun on Sunday, Termini said he has not spoken to either of his sons since seeing them at the hospital.
He explained that while he initially hired an attorney, he now represents himself in the case.
Termini told the Irish Sun on Sunday, “It’s coming up later this month. I will appear in front of the judge. Mike Rizzuto hired an attorney to represent him. But I’m just going to walk in there and tell the judge what I say happened, and I’m going to show my evidence.”
Despite the attack, Termini still holds a deep love for Ireland and dreams of returning to see out his days there once he is financially capable of doing so. He has legally changed his surname to Donnelly, after his great-grandmother Anne Donnelly, who was from Ireland.
Termini told us, “Every day, I dream of living in Ireland. My great-grandmother came to the US with the hunger problem in 1800. And I’ll have to tell you, after what happened in Dublin last summer, I took my great-grandmother’s last name. Her name was Anne Donnelly.”
Contacted by The Irish Sun on Sunday, Rizzuto answered our call before saying that his legal advice was to refer anyone requesting an interview to his legal representatives.
We also contacted a firm listed as his legal representative on the case in the US for comment, but there was no reply to our queries.
Some juveniles remain before the courts charged with the attack on Termini.
