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Daniel Stark Law Obtains $1.6 Million Jury Verdict in Life-Altering Drunk Driving Case
Daniel Stark Law Obtains $1.6 Million Jury Verdict in Life-Altering Drunk Driving Case
Daniel Stark Law Obtains $1.6 Million Jury Verdict in Life-Altering Drunk Driving Case
In 2019, the plaintiff and defendant attended a party organized by a fraternity they were
interested in joining. The underage plaintiff and defendant were served alcohol at the bar, and
both young men consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. After, the defendant elected to drive
home believing himself to be sober.
Traffic cameras captured the moments that the defendant lost control of the vehicle, resulting in
a high-speed crash into a tree. The impact caused the plaintiff to sustain a severe traumatic
brain injury, with emergency professionals uncertain if he would survive the crash scene.
Due to his brain injury, the plaintiff now faces permanent mental impairment and will need
lifelong assistance with daily tasks. His cognitive abilities have been severely affected,
preventing him from living independently.
Daniel Stark Law filed a lawsuit on behalf of their client against multiple parties, including the
bar, the fraternity chapter, and the drunk driver. The claims against the bar and fraternity
chapter were settled for confidential amounts prior to trial.
The Daniel Stark team, led by attorneys Michael Bristow and Zain Pleuthner, pursued the case
in trial. The jury ultimately awarded the plaintiff $1,680,784.00 for his past and future physical
pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and loss of earning capacity.
Per Attorney Bristow: “Daniel Stark Law is aggressively committed to holding all responsible
parties accountable for drunk driving crashes and ensuring our clients receive full value for their
injuries. This recent verdict serves as a reminder of the perils of drunk driving and underage
drinking. We hope this verdict will encourage students, fraternities, and bars to make better
decisions for the good of themselves and for the community at large.”
Linda McMillan
Public Communications Director
lmcmillan@danielstarklaw.com
979.846.8686
979.401.4100
danielstark.com