His body limp, an unconscious Regis A. Aguglia Jr. was slumped against a Club Erotica security guard by the time police arrived to break up a fight in April 2007.

During a scuffle at the club's entrance, bouncer Peter Castellano had put Mr. Aguglia in a sleeper hold from which he would never awake.

Mr. Aguglia, of Fineview, died nine days later. He was 40.

This week Mr. Aguglia's widow, Beth, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Club Erotica and three security guards involved in the altercation.

Mr. Castellano, 20, of Ross, Michael Gorsuch, 39, of Coraopolis, and Brian Bauernfeind, 27, of Elizabeth, never faced criminal charges, but the lawsuit alleges they helped cause Mr. Aguglia's death.

In the early-morning hours of April 29, 2007, Mr. Castellano told police at the time, Mr. Aguglia grabbed Mr. Gorsuch from behind as the security guard was pushing another patron out of the club.

According to a McKees Rocks police report, officers watched a surveillance tape that showed Mr. Castellano wrap his arms around Mr. Aguglia's neck and bring him to the floor. The guards then raised his limp body off the ground and propped Mr. Aguglia up on his knees, resting him against Mr. Gorsuch's legs.

As a brawl broke out, McKees Rocks and Stowe police officers responded and cited two men for public drunkenness.

Mr. Aguglia was taken by ambulance to Allegheny General Hospital, where he lapsed into a coma. He died May 8, leaving behind a wife, a son and a daughter.

The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said Mr. Aguglia died from an "enlarged heart process" that likely was related to a natural disease. But, aware of the altercation, medical examiners listed his manner of death as "undetermined" -- not committing to a label of homicide, accidental or natural death.

Following an investigation by Allegheny County homicide detectives, the district attorney's office decided there wasn't sufficient probable cause to charge anyone.

More than a year later, the Aguglia family approached attorney David Ainsman about a lawsuit.

"I thought it was another example of security in a bar -- or in this case, an adult entertainment club -- overreacting in a situation that causes a severe injury or death," Mr. Ainsman said.

"This was completely unnecessary. This man did not have to die."

The lawsuit also names Club Erotica, owned by Vince Isoldi, for failure to properly train or vet security personnel before allowing them to work and not creating a safe environment for a customer.

Beth Aguglia is seeking money for medical and funeral expenses, as well as compensation for pain and suffering by the family.

Reached this week, Mr. Castellano and Mr. Gorsuch declined comment.

Mr. Bauernfeind and Mr. Isoldi could not be reached for comment.