As reported by ABC News, the family of a man that died after being over-served cocktails in a Mississippi Casino, though family members allegedly begged the employees not to give him alcohol because he was on medication, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking damages of $75 million.
The suit was filed on July 26 in Gulfport's U.S. District Court and names IP Casino Resort and Spa in Biloxi as defendants.
B.L.G., 30, was found on the floor of his hotel bathroom in August 2009. The family states in the suit that B.L.G. was on painkillers and antipsychotic medications for up to three weeks prior to his death that included Percocet, morphine and Xanax.
The regimen of medication was prescribed to B.L.G. to cope with physical and psychotic issues, such as hallucinations, following a 2004 four-wheeler accident that left B.L.G. with a brain injury. Following the first accident B.L.G. also suffered back injuries from a second car crash in 2007.
On the morning of August 6, 2009 B.L.G., along with a few family members, had come to Mississippi to look for a new home having lost their previous home in Hurricane Katrina.
While staying at the IP resort B.L.G. began using the money, which had been planned for use to purchase a new home, for gambling. The family alleges that he bet up to $1,000 a hand at blackjack while requesting two cocktails each time a server took his order.
When B.L.G. was falling-down-drunk, according to the family, a dealer, pit boss, waitress and security guard refused to get involved and stop serving him drinks. According to the lawsuit, a pit boss told B.L.G.'s brother that B.L.G. was "old enough to make his own decisions."
However, the family was aware that on top of the alcohol consumption and the medications, B.L.G. attempted suicide just days before his death.
Eventually B.L.G. gave in to his family's wishes, and left the casino.
B.L.G. did not return to his room at this time. After an argument with his mother he entered the hotel bar and drank more cocktails. The relatives, having to leave to take one of their party home, reluctantly left B.L.G. in the bar after one last request that the bartender stop serving him.
When relatives returned to the bar B.L.G. was no longer there and a doorman told them that he had been removed from the casino by security.
The suit states that family members located B.L.G. "on the floor and half in the bathtub, facing the toilet with his pants around his ankles" in his hotel room.
A medic from the hotel arrived but failed to have a "mouthpiece". A friend of the family, who was also an emergency medical technician, spent 25 minutes working on B.L.G. until an ambulance arrived.
The suit states, "Despite their best efforts to save him from harm, (B.L.G.) was slowly poisoned while his friend and family…helplessly watched."
Not all deaths are preventable, but if you lost a loved one in a questionable scenario such as this one, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss filing a lawsuit. Monetary awards are often made for your pain and suffering.