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.
Lauren Thompson Killed by Drunk Driver in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania
According to local news, a woman was killed by a drunk driver in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania. The victim, 30-year-old Lauren E. Thompson, was struck by a driver who was operating on the wrong side of the highway on June 23. State police allege the driver, 30-year-old Lindsay M. Halliday, had a blood-alcohol content of .234 at the time of the crash. Pennsylvania state law considers a driver to be intoxicated at a BAC level of .08 percent.
Commentary While laws are being enacted daily to increase punishment of drunk drivers, the accidents keep happening. An investigation is needed to determine if any liability exists beyond that of the driver. I recognize the accident occurred in June, but some may not realize that most state's statute of limitations on civil matters is two years, making this incident well within the scope. What do I mean by liability beyond that of the driver? Most recognize that if a driver was intoxicated prior to an accident, they could certainly be faulted in the event. But, others may not realize that Pennsylvania law allows for the inclusion of an alcohol-serving establishment in a wrongful death claim, if a patron is found to be over-served and then involved in an accident. These laws, named dram shop laws, could hold an establishment partially liable in an accident if they were found to negligently serve a patron past the point of intoxication. Obviously this type of information is only discovered with the aid of a third party investigation, as police handle the accident and the defendant's level of intoxication, while the investigation targets exterior contingencies. A successful claim accomplishes two goals. First, if a bar or restaurant is involved in the accident, they are financially punished for being a partial cause to the incident. Secondly, and probably more importantly, a claim like this could be what changes the behavior of the establishment, and possibly prevent another accident from occurring.
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