tuscl

Spearmint Rhino let him drink too much?

shadowcat
Atlanta suburb
A Butler County man who went to a Pittsburgh strip club with friends last year is suing the strip club, claiming it served them too much alcohol and his friend for driving drunk into a concrete barrier on their way home.

Trey Turnblacer, Jaymes Jennings and other friends were drinking at Spearmint Rhino in the North Side the night of Feb. 17, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Allegheny County.

While there, the complaint alleges, Jennings, Turnblacer and others drank “excessive amounts” to the point they were “visibly intoxicated and severely impaired.” The bartenders continued to serve the group even though they were already drunk, according to the lawsuit.

The bartenders also should have known not to serve Jennings, who they knew, according to the lawsuit, was a “habitual drunkard” and “could not or chose not to control his consumption of alcohol.”

After the night out, Jennings, “visibly intoxicated and severely impaired,” got into his car to drive Turnblacer and the others home, according to the lawsuit. Jennings drove a short distance before turning left and driving head-on into an exit ramp barrier.

Court records show Jennings, 28, pleaded guilty last year to one count of driving under the influence and reckless endangerment and was sentenced to probation.

The lawsuit claims the Spearmint Rhino is liable for the crash because bartenders there continued to serve Jennings alcohol and didn’t stop him from trying to drive home.

Because of that, Jennings got in his car, allowed his friends to pile in and drunkenly drove into a barrier, according to the lawsuit.

Turnblacer, in turn, has suffered headaches, head pain, left hip pain and back pain, according to the lawsuit. He “endured an ambulance ride” from the crash to an emergency room, where a piece of glass was removed from his scalp.

The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Spearmint Rhino companies, its parent company, Jennings, and Penn Ave Hospitality, which holds the liquor license for Spearmint Rhino’s North Side location. Turnblacer, 26, and his attorney, Mark Smith, are asking for an unspecified amount of money.

Neither the A Butler County man who went to a Pittsburgh strip club with friends last year is suing the strip club, claiming it served them too much alcohol and his friend for driving drunk into a concrete barrier on their way home.

Trey Turnblacer, Jaymes Jennings and other friends were drinking at Spearmint Rhino in the North Side the night of Feb. 17, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Allegheny County.

While there, the complaint alleges, Jennings, Turnblacer and others drank “excessive amounts” to the point they were “visibly intoxicated and severely impaired.” The bartenders continued to serve the group even though they were already drunk, according to the lawsuit.

The bartenders also should have known not to serve Jennings, who they knew, according to the lawsuit, was a “habitual drunkard” and “could not or chose not to control his consumption of alcohol.”

After the night out, Jennings, “visibly intoxicated and severely impaired,” got into his car to drive Turnblacer and the others home, according to the lawsuit. Jennings drove a short distance before turning left and driving head-on into an exit ramp barrier.

Court records show Jennings, 28, pleaded guilty last year to one count of driving under the influence and reckless endangerment and was sentenced to probation.

The lawsuit claims the Spearmint Rhino is liable for the crash because bartenders there continued to serve Jennings alcohol and didn’t stop him from trying to drive home.

Because of that, Jennings got in his car, allowed his friends to pile in and drunkenly drove into a barrier, according to the lawsuit.

Turnblacer, in turn, has suffered headaches, head pain, left hip pain and back pain, according to the lawsuit. He “endured an ambulance ride” from the crash to an emergency room, where a piece of glass was removed from his scalp.

The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Spearmint Rhino companies, its parent company, Jennings, and Penn Ave Hospitality, which holds the liquor license for Spearmint Rhino’s North Side location. Turnblacer, 26, and his attorney, Mark Smith, are asking for an unspecified amount of money.

Neither the Spearmint Rhino nor Penn Ave Hospitality could immediately be reached for comment. Jennings also could not be reached for comment. nor Penn Ave Hospitality could immediately be reached for comment. Jennings also could not be reached for comment.

6 comments

  • Hank Moody
    5 years ago
    I’ve read where certain states have prosecuted bartenders/bars for overserving customers. In certain extreme cases I can get behind that, but only because it does not excuse the customer’s behavior. We are all responsible for our own actions. Bars do have some duty if someone is extremely drunk and driving to not continue to serve them. I reiterate - only in extremely limited circumstances.

    I hate that this legal theory is being used to try and get a payday for some guy to stupid to call an Uber.
  • Hank Moody
    5 years ago
    “too” stupid...
  • rickdugan
    5 years ago
    More Nanny State shit in action. I hope the kid accidentally gets hit several times with a baseball bat to the head.

    Thank goodness more enlightened states like Florida understand that bartenders and waitresses cannot be held responsible for babysitting other grown adults and have crafted their dram shop laws accordingly.
  • Papi_Chulo
    5 years ago
    Litigation is a sport in the US.

    I think I've heard of SCs being blamed for dancers that have gotten into accidents from having drank too-much during their shift - I've heard some clubs do a breathalyzer on dancers b/f allowing them to leave the club.
  • Nidan111
    5 years ago
    Fuck! Why not sue the fucking court system for allowing the prick to ever drive a car again. He obviously had a habitual problem. Why blame someone other adult for his childish bullshit. He’s fucking twit!
  • Uprightcitizen
    5 years ago
    It's like the losers that sue casinos because they lost too much money. Take some fucking responsibility.
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