Wrongful death lawsuit filed against former Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt - www.roanoke.comThe suit contends that Ewell Hunt and two deputies failed to protect Chad English. Ewell Hunt, the former Franklin County sheriff, and two of his deputies failed to heed an informant's tip that might have prevented the murder of a 19-year-old man, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed Wednesday.
Mayo Clinic wrongful death trial beginsA 13-year-old girl's death after surgery at Saint Marys Hospital in 2009 is at issue in a wrongful death trial that started Monday, May 14, in Olmsted County District Court.
Jackie Luper Killed at Work by Suspected Drunk Driver in Fayetteville, Arkansas
According to local reports, a road worker was killed after he was struck by a suspected drunk driver in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 21 when 57-year-old Jackie Luper was hit by a car driven by 51-year-old Jo Jackson. Police state Jackson drove past signs indicating a lane closure, and over barrier cones before hitting the man. Luper was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center where he passed away Thursday, September 22. Jackson has been charged with DWI and other offenses.
Update: Police believe the intoxication came from prescription medication, not alcohol.
Commentary I've said it before, but drunk driving is taking the lives of too many people in our nation. My firm takes a serious stance against this action and attempts to stop one of the causes of these accidents, but more to that in a bit. To begin, an independent investigation is needed for liability purposes. If the reports are accurate and the woman was driving while intoxicated, she could face liability in a wrongful death claim. Typically for a claim against another party to succeed, a negligence determination must be made. Typically, the operation of a vehicle, while under the influence, is a negligent act. Eligible survivors of the victim, assuming they can show some level of financial loss as a result of the accident, can make a claim for certain things like medical bills, funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of financial support the victim provided. Others may not realize that there could be another claim here. While more restrictive than other states, Arkansas does allow for a bar or restaurant to be included in a claim, provided they were found to over-serve a patron who is then involved in an accident. In Arkansas, this requires a meticulous investigation, as there must be a supported coupling of the imbibed alcohol with the accident in question. This type of claim not only fully compensates a family in the event of the loss of a loved one, but also punishes a bar or restaurant that breaks the state's liquor liability laws, striking a blow to one of the causes of many of these accidents.
Update: If the intoxication was the result of prescription drugs, obviously the dram shop claim is not applicable, but the driver could still face liability in a wrongful death claim, if they are assigned fault in the accident.
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