Larry Curtis - Mermentau, Louisiana Automobile Accident Attorney

June 07 2007 - Family of teenage DUI accident victim sues restaurant where suspect allegedly got drunk

A beach restaurant is facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed Friday alledges Ensenadas Mexican Restaurant is partly to blame for the death of a Virginia Beach teenager.

Alison Kunhardt and her friend, Tessa Trachant, died in the crash on March 30th.

Police say Alfredo Ramos was drunk when he slammed into the back of their car at a stoplight.

The lawsuit filed by Alison Kunhardt's father is asking for more than ten million dollars.

Current Virginia law does not hold restaurants liable for their patrons actions....But this lawsuit hopes to change that.

Alfredo Ramos may have been the only one behind the wheel the night of March 30th when he alledgely plowed into the back of a car killing Alison Kunhardt and Tessa Trachant. But a lawsuit filed Friday by Alison's father David, claims Ensenadas Mexican Restaurant in Virginia Beach also played a role in her death.

Kunhardt's attorney, Mike Joynes told us: "We believe there is a conspiracy or almost an accomplice type of situation between where Mister Ramos was drinking and the accident"

According to the lawsuit, obtained by 10 On Your Side, employees "knew Ramos to be intoxicated at the time he entered the premises". But they "continued to sell and serve Ramos alcoholic beverages throughout the evening"

We tried to speak to the manager of Ensenadas, but he refused to comment on the lawsuit.

According to current Virginia law, establishments cannot serve someone who is drunk.

Virginia, unlike other states, does not have a law holding establishments responsible if an intoxicated patron leaves and causes death or injury to another.

Joynes admits he has a tough road ahead, but ulitmately hopes the issue falls into the hands of lawmakers.

"When you have someone who goes in and gets completely intoxicated or was intoxicated when he got there or was served alcohol in furtherance of that intoxication you have the right to hold the establishment responsible," he said.

Ramos has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths.

He is scheduled to appear in court June 26th.
<< back

Larry Curtis, Personal Injury Attorney handles all types of Personal Injury cases including: Automobile Accidents, Maritime Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Wrongful Death, Insurance Bad Faith, Airplane Accidents, Drunk Driving Injuries, Large Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, School Bus Accidents, Slip and Fall Accidents.

Larry Curtis, Personal Injury Attorney serves the following Louisiana areas: Southern Louisiana, Lafayette, Acadia Parish (Crowley), Allen Parish (Oberlin), Ascension Parish (Donaldsonville), Assumption Parish (Napoleonville), Avoyelles Parish (Marksville), Beauregard Parish (DeRidder), Bienville Parish (Arcadia), Bossier Parish (Benton), Caddo Parish (Shreveport), Calcasieu Parish (Lake Charles), Caldwell Parish (Columbia), Cameron Parish (Cameron), Catahoula Parish (Harrisonburg), Claiborne Parish (Homer), Concordia Parish (Vidalia), DeSoto Parish (Mansfield),East Baton Rouge Parish (Baton Rouge), East Carroll Parish (Lake Providence), East Feliciana Parish (Clinton), Evangeline Parish (Ville Platte), Franklin Parish (Winnsboro), Grant Parish (Colfax), Iberia Parish (New Iberia), Iberville Parish (Plaquemine), Jackson Parish (Jonesboro), Jefferson Parish (Gretna), Jefferson Davis Parish (Jennings), Lafayette Parish (Lafayette), Lafourche Parish (Thibodaux), LaSalle Parish (Jena), Lincoln Parish (Ruston), Livingston Parish (Livingston), Madison Parish (Tallulah), Morehouse Parish (Bastrop), Natchitoches Parish (Natchitoches), Orleans Parish (New Orleans), Ouachita Parish (Monroe), Plaquemines Parish (Pointe a la Hache), Pointe Coupee Parish (New Roads), Rapides Parish (Alexandria), Red River Parish (Coushatta), Richland Parish (Rayville), Sabine Parish (Many), St. Bernard Parish (Chalmette), St. Charles Parish (Hahnville), St. Helena Parish (Greensburg), St. James Parish (Convent), St. John the Baptist Parish (Edgard), St. Landry Parish (Opelousas), St. Martin Parish (St. Martinville), St. Mary Parish (Franklin), St. Tammany Parish (Covington), Tangipahoa Parish (Amite), Tensas Parish (St. Joseph), Terrebonne Parish (Houma), Union Parish (Farmerville), Vermilion Parish (Abbeville), Vernon Parish (Leesville), Washington Parish (Franklinton), Webster Parish (Minden), West Baton Rouge Parish (Port Allen), West Carroll Parish (Oak Grove), West Feliciana Parish (St. Francisville), Winn Parish (Winnfield)

The legal information offered by Larry Curtis, Personal Injury Attorney and contained herein, regarding Louisiana legal statutes and Louisiana claimants' rights, is general in scope. No legal attorney / client relationship with our attorneys is hereby formed nor is the information herein intended as formal legal advice. Please contact a Louisiana lawyer regarding your specific inquiry.See Terms of Use.