A New Jersey girl's family recently settled a lawsuit with Aramark Corp., the company that provides concessions to the New York Giants, for $26 million. The company allegedly continued to serve alcohol to a fan that ended up driving drunk and hitting the family's car - leaving the child paralyzed from the neck down.

Dram Shop Act

According to new reports, Daniel Lanzaro attended a New York Giants football game in 1999. He became visibly intoxicated, but Aramark employees continued to serve him. If fact, Aramark served him 14 beers. After the game, Lanzaro drove home with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .226 - twice the legal limit. He hit another car driven by Fazila Verni. Fazila's daughter Antonia, now 11, was paralyzed from the neck down as a result of the accident. The family sued Aramark, among others, for the girl's injuries. A Bergen County jury initially awarded the family $105 million, but that was later reversed on appeal. The parties then settled with Aramark out of court for $26 million.

The lawsuit falls under the Dram Shop Act, which establishes liability of establishments arising out of the sale of alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons or minors who subsequently cause death or injury to third-parties as a result of alcohol-related car crashes and other accidents. Any establishment that sells or serves alcohol to minors or to someone who is visibly intoxicated could be liable under the Dram Shop Act. New Jersey, along with some other states, also impose liability on social hosts.

Personal Injury Lawsuit Involved Several Defendants

This personal injury lawsuit involved several defendants including Aramark Corporation, Daniel Lanzaro - the drunk driver, the National Football League (NFL) and the New York Giants football team. In addition to settling with Aramark, the Verni family ended up settling with Lanzaro, the NFL and the Giants for approximately $1.2 million.

Lawsuits such as this often involve several defendants with varying degrees of comparative negligence. An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to determine who might be responsible for the injuries associated with the accident. If you've been involved in a car accident, contact an experienced car accident attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.