Verdicts & Settlements - Dram Shop Lawsuit

Car Accident Victim Awarded $500,000 in Dram Shop Lawsuit Against Bar That Served Underage Patron

An 18 year old college student was broadsided by a 20 year old driver traveling 40-50 m.p.h. and had gone through two red lights in West Long Branch, NJ. The driver had just left a local bar where, being underage, he was served five beers and a shot of liquor. The driver subsequently plead guilty to driving while intoxicated in municipal court. A lawsuit was filed against the driver and local bar. The lawsuit alleged that the bar was liable for serving the driver and other minors under New Jersey's dram shop tort liability statute. Testimony of the driver and other witnesses established that the bar knew or should have known the driver and others were underage when they were served alcohol. The plaintiff's lawyers demonstrated in court that when the driver and his underage companion went to the bar on the night in question, they did not have to wait on line, pay a cover charge or show any identification.

Earlier in the case the plaintiff settled all claims against the defendant driver for the full amount of his automobile insurance policy limits of $250,000.00. The dram shop defendant defaulted and a Monmouth County Superior Court Judge awarded the plaintiff $500,000 for her injuries, finding the circumstances of the bar serving alcohol to minors and the resulting injures to be a tragedy. The plaintiff suffered a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, broken tail bone and a punctured lung in the accident. She was pinned in her car for over one-half hour and had to be extracted using the "jaws of life."

For more information or to speak with an experienced New Jersey dram shop lawyer, contact Keefe Bartels & Clark LLC.

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