As reported by the Ironton Tribune, the family of a man that was killed outside an Ironton bar a year ago, and the man responsible is behind bars serving time for involuntary manslaughter, is now suing the bar, and five others, for their negligence.
Named in the suit are the Marlow Grill, J.R. and her late husband C.R., P.R. and D.C. A.T., the brother of the deceased E.T. and the estate's administrator, claims that all named were "reckless, gross and egregious and carried on with a total disregard to life and person."
Cincinnati-based attorney, Randy A. Byrd, is representing the T. family. He declined to comment to press on the case.
D.C. was accused of negligence and intention when he landed a fatal blow on E.T. The bar, C.R. and P.R. are named for missing that D.C. was "noticeably intoxicated" when they had a "duty to the decedent and the public in general to prevent fighting, rioting and reveling on the premises."
The suit contends that all three shouldn't have allowed D.C. to remain at the bar while drunk.
C.R. and P.R. own the building that the Marlow Grill is housed in. The family sold the actual bar itself this past February.
P.R., in his frustration at being sued, said, "It's been a year, and I thought that it was done with. Apparently they want to go through with it. The incident took place outside of the business. Either in the parking lot possibly or on the sidewalk. We don't for sure know all the facts of what happened. It might have even happened in the street. Who knows?"
The incident occurred on November 11. Ironton Police Department officers responded to a call about an assault outside the Marlow Grill. E.T. was transferred from the scene first to the King's Daughters Medical Center, then later, to the Cabell Huntington Hospital - where he succumbed to his injuries on November 23.
E.T. was 40 at the time of his death. D.C. was 39 when he was sentenced to nine years in Caldwell's Noble Correctional Institution for involuntary manslaughter.
D.C. originally faced a charge of murder and the grand jury reduced the charge.
P.R. continued, "The incident could have happened anywhere. It could have happened at McDonald's or outside of a church or a school or whatever. There is only so much we can be responsible for. We called the police immediately. Arrests were made. A trial was held. (D.C.) was found guilty and sentenced to prison. And we were not found in anyway a part of the situation."
P.R. has not yet had legal counsel appointed by his family's insurance company.
The complaint is asking for unspecified damages to cover medical expenses. In regards to compensatory and punitive damages, the suit states that it will be "in an amount yet to be determined, but in excess of $25,000 ... for each defendant."
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