[iceman247]

Joe Schilling has been granted immunity from civil lawsuit filed by Justin Balboa, the man he knocked out in a Florida restaurant.

In an April 19 filing, Broward County (Fla.) circuit court judge Fabienne E. Fahnestock found Schilling was justified in striking Balboa under the state’s Stand Your Ground law because he “reasonably believed” Balboa “posed a threat of great bodily harm to himself.”

“The court further finds that Schilling used only such force necessary to neutralize the threat, and is therefore entitled to immunity, “ Fahnestock wrote in the court order.

In a prepared statement, Schilling attorney David Katz wrote the decision was “a complete and total victory for Schilling, who was widely criticized in social media after this incident occurred.”

Schilling texted a statement to MMA Fighting on the apparent resolution of the case.

Balboa attorney Rich Conforti did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Schilling filed for immunity under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law this past June after Balboa filed suit against the Bellator MMA vet, claiming he was “viciously attacked, physically struck and assaulted” during an altercation at B Square Burgers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that was caught on video and quickly went viral. Balboa also sued the restaurant’s corporate parent for negligence in allowing the incident to take place.

Balboa’s attorney Conforti said his client had a “considerably high-damages claim” and sought damages in excess of $30,000 from the defendants.

[deadhorsey]

The only clear winners are the attorneys.