A new low

Twidget

Commander
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Messages
2,192
I realize this guy is grieving the loss of his son, but what is this about? Let me get this straight, his son had was plastered, speeding, using a cell phone and pot was found in the car. That is all tragically stupid.

So Dad is suing the real victims of his little escapade? This must be an all time low, I am sooooo disgusted by this. He is lucky they arent suing his son's estate for damages.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6846710

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The father of Josh Hancock filed suit Thursday, claiming a restaurant provided drinks to the St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him.

The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court by Dean Hancock of Tupelo, Miss., does not specify damages. Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is a defendant in the case along with Shannon's daughter, Patricia Shannon Van Matre, the restaurant manager.

Other defendants include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.

The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants. In a brief statement, the Cardinals said, "We hope this matter will come to a swift and fair resolution for all parties involved."

Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood content of nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding, using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, Police Chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident. Marijuana also was found in the SUV.

Mokwa said Hancock went to Shannon's not long after the Cardinals played a day game against the Chicago Cubs on April 28. The lawsuit claimed that Hancock was a regular at the restaurant bar and was there for more than 3 1/2 hours.

"It's understood that for the entire 3 1/2 hours that Josh Hancock was there that he was handed drinks," Keith Kantack, a lawyer for Dean Hancock, said. "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."

A person answering phones at the restaurant declined comment. A message left with Van Matre was not returned.

The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway, and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic. A police report said the car became stalled when it spun out after being cut off by another vehicle.

Police said Hargrove noticed the stalled vehicle and stopped to help. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV. But Kantack said the tow truck may have been there up to 15 minutes, yet failed to get the stalled vehicle out of the way.

"Were the police contacted?" Kantack asked. "Why weren't flares put out? Why was the tow truck there for an exorbitant amount of time?"

Tolar did not have a listed telephone number. Calls to the towing company were met with a busy signal.

Kantack said others could be added later as defendants in the suit. He declined to speculate on whether the Cardinals or Major League Baseball could be added to the suit, but said the Hancock family has been "overwhelmed by the support and respect the Cardinals have shown since Josh's passing."

Dean Hancock said in a statement that the "facts and circumstances" of Josh's death "have caused great pain to all of Josh's family." As administrator of his son's estate, Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death."
 

JRJ

Commander
Joined
Sep 11, 2001
Messages
2,992
Re: A new low

Just "Big Law" doing what they do every day. Its always someone else's fault.
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,517
Re: A new low

This is based on what is called "The Deep Pockets" theory
 

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
12,072
Re: A new low

Actually It goes deeper than the 'deep pocket' theory. It is an ethic that was fostered by Liberals that always makes someone else in the village responsible for you. The legal system is just capitalizing on that.:rolleyes:
 

Plainsman

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 2, 2006
Messages
4,062
Re: A new low

No.
It is based on suing people whom you know have money and not waste your time on suing poor buggers.

I guess big oil knows we have money, cause we're spending it on their product.
 

heycods

Captain
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
3,941
Re: A new low

Geezzz have I been gone so long! how did the wreck and subsiquent law suit have anything to do with "Big Oil"?
Nevermind I get it, sue big oil too they put the gas in the tow truck!
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
17,651
Re: A new low

Geezzz have I been gone so long! how did the wreck and subsiquent law suit have anything to do with "Big Oil"?
Nevermind I get it, sue big oil too they put the gas in the tow truck!
Yea and they raised the price so much, the poor guy in the car ran out cause he could not afford to buy it.:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 

Terry Olson

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
415
Re: A new low

I agree that the intoxicated driver is responsible - no excuses. BUT... bars (and government owned / operated municipal liquor establishments too for that matter) more often than not continue to serve people who they KNOW are intoxicated - all in the name of making money. There isn't a bar in the land that sends every one of it's patrons out the door at closing time in proper condition to drive home.

Think they don't know it??? Of course they do, but there's little enforcement in places where it is a crime to overserve. They make more overserving than they lose in the rare lawsuit. There's a calculation being made. When it costs more to overserve they won't do it, but that's just not the case.

Again - the drunk leaving is responsible for himself and his actions, but nearly all liquor establishments contribute to the problem as a standard business practice.

My point is that they aren't clean in this problem either. The drug dealer isn't clean in the drug problem, even though his customers have a choice - the same choice liquor establishment patrons have.
 

heycods

Captain
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
3,941
Re: A new low

Its them dad gummed drunk cars that are killing people ! Lets sue them!
 

Twidget

Commander
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Messages
2,192
Re: A new low

It was the stationary tow truck with the bright shiny lights that jumped out in front of him.....

Seriously though, did anyone here ever go to a bar not to drink? He screwed up, he paid the price. I'm just glad he didnt take anyone with him.
 

JRJ

Commander
Joined
Sep 11, 2001
Messages
2,992
Re: A new low

Its just a bummer. Bars sell drinks to people that shouldn't. Gas stations sell gas to people that can't drive. Sex is used to sell stuff to people that don't have the brains to practice safe sex.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: A new low


The bar & the bar tender are guilty.....
So is BIG OIL......
For being lax in failing to squeeze every loose cent from your pocket!
If they would have raised their prices high enough, he wouldn'd have had enough money to drink & drive.....
Verizon should be sued as well......;)
 

Vlad D Impeller

Commander
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
2,644
Re: A new low

The bar & the bar tender are guilty.....
So is BIG OIL......
For being lax in failing to squeeze every loose cent from your pocket!
If they would have raised their prices high enough, he wouldn'd have had enough money to drink & drive.....
Verizon should be sued as well......;)

One of these days you may sober up enough to actually kick yourself after you've read some of the things that you regularly post. ;)
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: A new low

Smith&wesson lost a lawsuit some years back. I wish I could recall the particulars, but the human refuse that shot someone, sued the gun maker.
If there is a buck to be had in life's little tragedies, there will be a lawyer there to suck it up like a catfish sucks-up what's on the bottom of the tank.

EDIT: AHAH! I Yahooed it! here is the story
Well, I'll be dipped.... Seems S&W has a habit of "settling" cases
Good grief!!! Maybe I should quit clicking the links my search brought-up!
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Re: A new low

the drunk leaving is responsible for himself and his actions,

That's the Bottom Line,...........

The rest of this is Pure Bull$h!t................:rolleyes:
 

Fly Rod

Commander
Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
2,622
Re: A new low

1st, If I were on the jury and if the case did get to court, it would be a hung jury. There is no one other to blame then Josh, he is an adult, he knew better and he is a "POTHEAD!!"

The father has to blame someone for the stupidity of his son's faults.

And in the end it's the American way to sue several other people or organizations and who has the most money to give, "LOSERS!!"

In Mass. there is a law just passed a few years ago that an establishment could be held liable after serving a patron more then three drinks. And if a person is pulled over for drunk driving and he tells a lie to the cop that he drank at your bar when he did not, you will still have to defend yourself in a court of law.

By the way! none of the drunk driving rules apply to Ted Kennedy, he is a certified "PROFESSIONAL DRUNK!!"
 
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