A four-day jury trial has been scheduled following a violent altercation at an exclusive Denver country club that left a prominent property developer with a severely shattered collarbone. The shocking incident, which unfolded during a business networking event, is now set for a courtroom showdown in May.
The Night of the Altercation
The fight erupted on June 3, 2024, at the Lakewood Country Club in Denver. The venue, which boasts an 18-hole golf course and a 25-metre Olympic pool, was hosting an event for RK Industries. Among the guests were developer Bradley Eide and broker Nick Steitz, a former NFL offensive lineman.
According to court documents obtained by BusinessDen, the conflict began when Eide allegedly warned an RK executive against hiring Steitz for business development. Eide stated in a deposition, "He's a liability. I would never hire that guy... I didn't think he was a good fit." Eide claimed that Steitz had been drinking heavily and acting inappropriately, including flicking his genitals and grabbing his butt, behaviour Eide described as a "locker-room mentality."
A Tackle Through a Food Table
The situation escalated rapidly. Eide's deposition details that moments after the warning, Steitz crouched into a tackling position and lunged at him. "He went to grab my legs, and I grabbed over the top of him as he grabbed my legs. And then as I grabbed ahold of him, he - like an offensive lineman - pushed my legs up into the air. And then we fell backwards through the food table that was behind us," Eide recounted.
The impact was severe. The fall shattered Eide's collarbone in several places, an injury that required subsequent surgery. That same night, Steitz reportedly sent a text message to Eide apologising, but offering a different perspective: "I'm really sorry about what happened. You wouldn't stop choking me and I got really freaked out. I couldn't breathe."
Legal Fallout and Upcoming Trial
In January 2025, Bradley Eide filed a lawsuit against Nick Steitz, Steitz's then-employer JLL, and the Lakewood Country Club. By December, confidential settlements were reached with Steitz and the country club, leaving JLL as the sole defendant. The firm has denied liability, arguing Steitz was acting independently.
Steitz, who now works at Trevey Commercial Real Estate, continues to dispute Eide's account. His attorney, Kevin Ripplinger, stated via email, "Supported by witnesses to the incident, Mr. Steitz continues to dispute Mr. Eide's version of the event."
The trial is expected to attract significant attention, not only for the bizarre circumstances but also due to Eide's claim that the country club has a reputation for "heavy pours" and "wild parties." Eide noted in his deposition, "I've heard from members that it's a bit of a party country club."
Bradley Eide is a developer with Denver-based Elevate Cos., known for acquiring land for apartment projects. Nick Steitz played three seasons in the NFL and one in the Arena Football League after a university career, later moving into commercial real estate with firms like CBRE and JLL.
