Tag Archives: dramshop

Family Sues Hazelwood Missouri Tavern over Son’s Death in Drunk Driving Accident

November 19, 2014 Mike Glisson

On the evening of February 5, two cars were involved in a head-on collision in the southbound lanes of I-255. The driver of one car, Tawanda Jackson, 32, her son, 9-year-old Arnold J. “Jay” Jackson and passenger Jon L. Moss, 28, were all killed upon impact while Jackon’s 11-year-old daughter, Takia, was seriously injured. The driver of the other car, Newton M. Keene, 46, was found to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.29 percent after the accident- nearly four times the legal limit in Illinois.

Keene, who was injured in the accident, has a long history of drunk-driving offenses with six convictions on file, a Missouri license that has been revoked since 1997 and indefinitely suspended driving privileges in Illinois. Late last Thursday, Keene was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and a host of aggravated drunken driving charges.

However, Keene is not the only person facing charges with this accident. Moss’s family is now pressing charges against the owners of the bar where Keene had been drinking that night, Premier Entertainment Hazelwood. Under the basic principals of dramshop laws, any owner of a liquor license can be held liable for the actions of the person consuming the alcohol they are providing. In the wrongful death case, Moss’s family is seeking $200,000 in damages plus costs.

The law firm of WWF&G represent numerous families that are victims of alcohol related accidents similar to this one. If you or a friend or family member has been injured in an alcohol related accident, please contact WWF&G for a free consultation at 1-800-WWFGLAW or 618-462-1077. All partners are licensed in Illinois and Missouri.

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Ottawa Man Obtains Dramshop Liability Verdict Against Godfrey Tavern

November 19, 2014 Mike Glisson

Roper’s Regal Beagle lost a case against an Ottawa, IL resident who sought damages for injuries sustained in a bar fight.

Represented by WWF&G Attorney Michael P. Glisson, plaintiff James Ceja received a $35,000 verdict from the Madison County jury in last week’s dramshop case. According to the Madison/St. Clair Record, the award covered $24,000 in medical bills, $1,500 for pain and suffering and $9,000 in lost income. The insurance company offered $5,000 before the trial.

The fight two years ago pitted Ceja against Regal Beagle customer Michael Whittman, who became intoxicated by drinking alcohol purchased at the bar and rained blows upon Ceja. The fight caused Ceja to become injured and miss work time. Whittman settled the civil case earlier this year with the customer, but Glisson also held the Regal Beagle responsible for Ceja’s injuries.

Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla presided over the trial, which began on Sept. 7.

Dramshop laws hold taverns and other businesses that sell liquor responsible for injuries caused by intoxication because they profit from sales of alcohol. The statute of limitations on such cases expires in one year, so victims of dram shop-related injuries are advised to act quickly. The State of Illinois Liquor Control Commission has set a limit of $60,247.68 for each person incurring damages, and the limit changes each year depending on the consumer price index.

As evidenced by the $35,000 result of Ceja’s law suit against Roper’s Regal Beagle, the dramshop liability attorneys of WWF&G are experienced at gaining positive results for clients in dramshop cases.

Wine Glass from Lawsuit from St. Louis Police Officer Settle Drunk Driving Suit

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St. Louis Tavern and Off-Duty Police Officer Settle Drunk Driving Suit

November 19, 2014 Mike Glisson

O’Leary’s Bar and Restaurant in St. Louis and a Sunset Hills police officer have settled a drunk driving, dramshop and wrongful death case out of court.

A car accident caused by the suspended police officer killed the other car’s four passengers instantly and seriously injured the driver. The accident, which occurred in March of 2009, came at the tail end of a night of binge drinking at O’Leary’s Bar.

According to a report on the KMOV St. Louis website, a receipt recovered from the offender’s purse revealed that she had drunk five Cosmopolitans, and the hospital’s breathalyzer test showed the off-duty officer’s blood alcohol content to be nearly three times the legal limit.

The settlement total came to a sum in excess of $2.2 million, which maxed out the amount the officer’s and tavern’s insurance policies would pay. The criminal case against the officer, who plead guilty, will determine how many years of prison time she will receive. The sentence is scheduled to come in spring of 2011.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 32 people die every day in the United States from auto accidents related to drunk driving.

The attorneys at William, Webster, Falb & Glisson are equipped to effectively handle civil cases concerning drunk driving car accidents and violations of dramshop laws, as well as wrongful death cases. If you are the victim of drunk driving or would like to represent a deceased loved one, we recommend seeking legal help as soon as possible. Please contact us without delay for a free consultation.

view of drunk driver from window in lawsuit where lounge in alton Illinois sued

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Ten-Pin Lounge and Woodstock Lounge in Alton, Illinois Sued for Drunk Driving Deaths

November 18, 2014 Mike Glisson

Two Alton, Illinois bars are facing dramshop lawsuits after a man from Hardin died in a drunk driving auto accident.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of the deceased man has named Woodstock Lounge and Ten-Pin Lounge in downtown Alton partially responsible under dramshop laws for the fatal accident by allegedly serving the drunken driver–a man from Fieldon, Illinois–an excessive amount of alcohol which caused his impaired driving.

According to an article in The Telegraph, the car accident, which occurred in January 2010, has already led to fines, probation and jail time for the drunk driver. The criminal case against the driver was tried in Jersey County Circuit Court, while the civil case against the two Alton taverns was filed in Madison County Circuit Court.

The victim was killed in a crash on Illinois Route 16 outside of Fieldon, Illinois, where officials pronounced him dead upon arriving to the accident site.

The National Center for Injury Prevention & Control reports that in 2008, 11,773 people died in car crashes where one or both drivers were under the influence of alcohol. According to the Illinois State Police website, impaired driving offenses that result in serious car crashes can result in “Aggravated DUI” sentences, which can carry a fine of $25,000 and up to twelve years in prison.

Michael P. Glisson and Thomas O. Falb of the law offices of WWF&G in Alton, Illinois are experienced handlers of dramshop cases. By law, businesses that profit from the sale of alcohol share in the responsibility for the risk of economic damages associated with alcohol.

In addition to taverns and restaurants, grocery stores that sell liquor are also held responsible under dramshop laws. Businesses are aware of the risk when they apply for a liquor license, and almost all dramshops have insurance covering accidents.

Dramshop cases evolve from fights at taverns, accidents with drunk drivers, and generally where an intoxicated person causes injury to a person or their property. There is no time to wait when it comes to dramshop cases, so contact WWF&G today for a free consultation on your case.

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Hardin, Illinois Bar Faces Trial in Dramshop Lawsuit

November 18, 2014 Mike Glisson

A drunken bar fight in Hardin, Illinois that allegedly caused a customer to become injured has led to a dramshop lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed in the Calhoun County, Illinois circuit court by WWF&G attorney Michael P. Glisson, claims that the liquor served by the bar caused one of its patrons to become drunk and disorderly. The patron then assaulted another customer.

In the aftermath of the attack, the plaintiff suffered numerous facial fractures requiring surgery. In addition, the suit claims the incident has caused pain and suffering and expensive medical care. Being unable to work has resulted in lost wages for the plaintiff.

The defendants named include both the attacker and the tavern. The case is set for trial in May of 2011.

According to a fact sheet published by the Illinois Liquor Commission, it is unlawful to sell liquor to an intoxicated person. Disobeying this law can result in fines from $500 to $2,500, as well as a year of jail time and/or liquor license suspension or revocation. This offense is a Class A Misdemeanor.

With offices in Alton, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri, attorneys Michael P. Glisson and Thomas O. Falb of the law offices of WWF&G are licensed to prosecute dramshop and assault and battery cases in both Illinois and Missouri.

These two personal injury experts understand the disruption that dramshop-related incidents can bring to your life, whether they involve assault or impaired driving. Technically, dramshops include not only bars, but also grocery stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and convenience stores that sell alcohol.

The fundamental principal behind the Dramshop Act is that the economic burden created by injuries from consumption of alcohol should be borne by the entire liquor industry. Those who profit from the sale of alcohol will share in the responsibility for the risks associated with alcohol.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a dramshop incident with expensive consequences both in terms of medical bills and quality-of-life, please contact us for a free consultation. With a statute of limitations of one year on dramshop cases, there is no time to waste.