A jury in Minnesota returned an $8 million verdict in favor of a seriously injured plaintiff in his lawsuit against a drunk driver and the bar that continued to serve him alcohol despite his obvious intoxication. The verdict was rendered under Minnesota’s Dram Shop statute which holds bars liable for the negligent actions of customers their employees continued to serve even though they were exhibiting visible signs of intoxication.
The defendant driver had admitted his liability for colliding with the plaintiff which resulted in multiple injuries including a shattered pelvis, fractured forearms, broken leg and vision loss.
Jury verdicts such as these send a clear message to bar owners they will be held responsible for injuries to innocent victims of drunk drivers who drink to excess and are allowed to leave the bar and drive. Bar and tavern owners can no longer turn a blind eye to the obviously intoxicated patron who continues to want to buy drinks. The number of drunk driving accidents resulting in serious injuries and death are rising. We must all do our part in stopping this activity. Patrons must know the amount of alcohol they can consume and legally drive or designate a non-drinking driver. Bars must be vigilant about their intoxicated patrons and refuse to serve them and make sure they are not driving.
