Hancock's father sues over pitcher's death

[redsoxrules]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6846710

 

WTF? so you're a grown man, go to a restaurant and get shitfaced and then hop in your car and cause an accident but yet they blame the restaurant ? this i dont agree with

[MDF3530]

If you ask me, some small town hick lawyer is smellin' a chance to get his one big score before he retires.

[Seldini]

Suing the restaurant is rediculous, but suing the broken down tow truck owner is truly insane and should be a crime. He did have road flares up? Boohoo Mr. Hancock, his truck got hit by a guy who was at twice the legal limit and had pot in his car. I hope the towing company countersues, I can understand being upset over your son's death, but filing rediculous lawsuits is not right and can ruin other people's lives.

[TheKilo]

They were saying on the radio that the people were sued to be deposed, not necessarily to be brought for financial damages.

 

There's a law in Missouri that could put some serious blame on the bar owner/bartender for not cutting him off though.

[redsoxrules]

 

There's a law in Missouri that could put some serious blame on the bar owner/bartender for not cutting him off though.

 

thats ridiculous , he knows what he was getting himself too .

 

this just pisses me off , its like a fatman suing mcdonalds because they served him to much unhealthy food

[TheKilo]

thats ridiculous , he knows what he was getting himself too .

 

this just pisses me off , its like a fatman suing mcdonalds because they served him to much unhealthy food

 

Not really. There's always liability for these bartenders and they need to recognize when to cut a guy off, especially when it comes to drunk driving.

 

The drunk driver can harm others when driving a deadly weapon. The obese guy can't.

[TGov]

The argument they're probably making is that the restaurant didn't cut off his alcoholic beverages before he was intoxicated...

[redsoxrules]

Not really. There's always liability for these bartenders and they need to recognize when to cut a guy off, especially when it comes to drunk driving.

 

The drunk driver can harm others when driving a deadly weapon. The obese guy can't.

 

some people can hold their liquor pretty good , how does a bartender supposed to know if he's to drunk or not?

[TheKilo]

some people can hold their liquor pretty good ' date=' how does a bartender supposed to know if he's to drunk or not?[/quote']

 

Isn't the bartender supposed to be cognizant of how many drinks he's given to a customer?

[ORS]

The other defendants are, and I'm not kidding, the tow truck driver, and get this, the guy who was getting a tow. This is pretty close to the pinnacle of douche-baggery.

 

As for the liability of the bartender. That is a s***** law. People should be held responsible for their actions. End of story. The bartender, manager, and owner are there to do their job and make money. Not babysit f***tards who can't make a good decision. I mean, why don't we sue the state for making alcohol legal, because that enabled the bartender to be negligent. Of course, it's the federal government's fault for repealing prohibition, so they are next.

[Gom]

I used to bartend in college, and it is asking a lot to make a bartender responsible. Also, it is a completely unenforceable law. All a bartender has to say is that he looked fine to me. That's not to say he didn't drink elsewhere, or even have it hit him later on. God knows it's hit me after the bar on many occasions.

 

ORS, I couldn't agree with you more on this point.

 

What a piece of s*** his father is. I hope they counter-sue him and take every penny of his son's money that he left to his family. What a complete *******.

[TheKilo]

Look, I don't have an issue with him suing the tow truck driver, etc. if all he's trying to do is depose them and get all of the information.

 

If he's looking for financial gain, then yes. Douchebag. If he wants to do it for information and for closure, why is this a big issue?

[Gom]

Look, I don't have an issue with him suing the tow truck driver, etc. if all he's trying to do is depose them and get all of the information.

 

If he's looking for financial gain, then yes. Douchebag. If he wants to do it for information and for closure, why is this a big issue?

 

Did you read the article?

 

His son was a priviledged drunk who is lucky he only killed himself.

 

I couldn't believe that he is suing the driver for being negligent and letting his car break down on the road. Like his son wasn't being negligent by being drunk twice over the legal limit.

 

f*** him, and his son.

[TedWilliams101]

I hate the fact that restaurants/bars and bartenders can be held accountable for the actions of someone else. But, that is the law and there could be a case here. I think the law is rediculous. Hopefully the bar will get a good lawyer and make a fool out of Hancock's case and father. It's about time people are held accountable for their own actions and stop putting blame on everyone else.

[TheKilo]

Did you read the article?

 

His son was a priviledged drunk who is lucky he only killed himself.

 

I couldn't believe that he is suing the driver for being negligent and letting his car break down on the road. Like his son wasn't being negligent by being drunk twice over the legal limit.

 

f*** him, and his son.

 

Suing for information = not great, but not reprehensible

 

Suing for money = douchebag

 

 

Once the truck driver's case comes up I'm sure no judge will give him legal footing to stand on and get monetary gain.

[TheKilo]

I hate the fact that restaurants/bars and bartenders can be held accountable for the actions of someone else. But' date=' that is the law and there could be a case here. I think the law is rediculous. Hopefully the bar will get a good lawyer and make a fool out of Hancock's case and father. It's about time people are held accountable for their own actions and stop putting blame on everyone else.[/quote']

 

If someone who is visibly drunk at a bar and continues to be served alcohol, then gets behind the wheel of a car and kills someone you love, what would you say then?

 

I think you'd be singing a different tune.

[ORS]

Look, I don't have an issue with him suing the tow truck driver, etc. if all he's trying to do is depose them and get all of the information.

 

If he's looking for financial gain, then yes. Douchebag. If he wants to do it for information and for closure, why is this a big issue?

Because he totally interupts their lives, dragging them through a lawsuit, costing them legal fees, all because his son was a f***-up. Look, it's an unfortunate event, but what information is going to erase the fact that his kid had serious problems? In the end, no matter who served what drink, or whether or not the tow truck driver used flares, or the amount of upkeep the driver performed on his car, it won't change the fact that Hancock was lush and that's what killed him. Why does everyone else have to go through suffering while the father comes to grips with this?

[HeadOfSoxNation]

If someone who is visibly drunk at a bar and continues to be served alcohol, then gets behind the wheel of a car and kills someone you love, what would you say then?

 

I think you'd be singing a different tune.

 

I wouldn't be...

 

God forbid that happen, but I wouldn't blame the bar.

 

Find me one person on here of legal age that hasn't had too much to drink at the bar...so much to drink that they would be at double the legal limit. Everyone that goes out and drinks has been at that point at one time or another. It's not illegal to be intoxicated. Do I expect the bartender to cut me off? s*** no. I'm out with my friends having a good time and I can police myself. I don't need some guy I've never met before telling me when I've had too much to drink. I've bartended for 5 some-odd years now and if I was to cut everyone off once I thought that they mayyyy be at the legal limit, I'd have an empty bar and no one to serve in the first place. Am I going to serve someone who's slurring their words, vomitting, and can't walk in a straight line from their stool to the bathroom? Of course not...but it's not always black and white like that. Actually, it rarely is. People need to stand up and realize that they're responsible for their own actions. Anytime I know I'm going to drink more than my fair share, I see to it that I have a driver around who ISN'T going to get even CLOSE to the legal limit. If by some chance we don't plan accordingly, we make phone calls to friends or call a cab. We're responsible, law-abiding citizens. There was a case a couple of years ago where Aramark, who provides the concessions for Giants Stadium, was sued by the family of a little girl who died as a result of a drunk driver who had just left a Giants game. Do I feel sorry for the family? Of COURSE I do. Do I thank my lucky stars every single day that I haven't been in a similar situation? Obviously. But at the same rate, do I think Aramark should be responsible for a guy who had too many beers at a football game? No way.

 

Kilo...if you don't mind me asking...how old are you?

[TheKilo]

I wouldn't be...

 

God forbid that happen, but I wouldn't blame the bar.

 

Find me one person on here of legal age that hasn't had too much to drink at the bar...so much to drink that they would be at double the legal limit. Everyone that goes out and drinks has been at that point at one time or another. It's not illegal to be intoxicated. Do I expect the bartender to cut me off? s*** no. I'm out with my friends having a good time and I can police myself. I don't need some guy I've never met before telling me when I've had too much to drink. I've bartended for 5 some-odd years now and if I was to cut everyone off once I thought that they mayyyy be at the legal limit, I'd have an empty bar and no one to serve in the first place. Am I going to serve someone who's slurring their words, vomitting, and can't walk in a straight line from their stool to the bathroom? Of course not...but it's not always black and white like that. Actually, it rarely is. People need to stand up and realize that they're responsible for their own actions. Anytime I know I'm going to drink more than my fair share, I see to it that I have a driver around who ISN'T going to get even CLOSE to the legal limit. If by some chance we don't plan accordingly, we make phone calls to friends or call a cab. We're responsible, law-abiding citizens. There was a case a couple of years ago where Aramark, who provides the concessions for Giants Stadium, was sued by the family of a little girl who died as a result of a drunk driver who had just left a Giants game. Do I feel sorry for the family? Of COURSE I do. Do I thank my lucky stars every single day that I haven't been in a similar situation? Obviously. But at the same rate, do I think Aramark should be responsible for a guy who had too many beers at a football game? No way.

 

Kilo...if you don't mind me asking...how old are you?

 

I'm in my early 20s.

 

Look, it's unfortunate it happened. However, the law in the state where the person got the bartending job had this law on the books. That means the bartender needs to be aware of all of the liability issues that come along with being a bartender in the state of Missouri.

 

I think at the very least, if you are going to continue serving the alcohol to someone who is already intoxicated (which, I hear, is the main crux of the law in Missouri), then you have to try to make sure the guy doesn't get behind the wheel of the car. Getting drunk to the point where you are twice the legal limit and then being allowed to drive behind the wheel of a car is irresponsible. Mostly due to Hancock, but I do feel some blame needs to be placed on the bartender simply because of the explicit legislation in Missouri.

 

I assume you bartend in NY, and I don't know of any laws that would give the bartender liability like that so I won't comment.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

I'm in my early 20s.

 

Look, it's unfortunate it happened. However, the law in the state where the person got the bartending job had this law on the books. That means the bartender needs to be aware of all of the liability issues that come along with being a bartender in the state of Missouri.

 

I think at the very least, if you are going to continue serving the alcohol to someone who is already intoxicated (which, I hear, is the main crux of the law in Missouri), then you have to try to make sure the guy doesn't get behind the wheel of the car. Getting drunk to the point where you are twice the legal limit and then being allowed to drive behind the wheel of a car is irresponsible. Mostly due to Hancock, but I do feel some blame needs to be placed on the bartender simply because of the explicit legislation in Missouri.

 

I assume you bartend in NY, and I don't know of any laws that would give the bartender liability like that so I won't comment.

 

 

I'm aware of the laws...I'm just debating their prudence, that's all. Similar laws are on the books here in NY where I bartend currently and in Florida where I bartended previously. All bartenders are aware of them...but to be honest with you...most of us look at it as a crapsshoot. You use your best judgement to allow people to have a good time while not putting anyone in any kind of danger. Have I ever served someone beyond the legal limit and had them drive home? I don't know of any particular cases, as I wouldn't have continued serving them, but I'm SURE it's happened. It's happened to anyone who's ever bartended. Anyone who tells you that it hasn't is lieing.

 

To what extent am I, as a bartender, supposed to go to to make sure a guy doesn't drive? Ask him? Ok, I suppose I could do that. I have, actually. Take his keys from him? That's theft of private property. Follow him outside and physically prohibit him from getting into his car? That's unlawful imprisonment. What I'm saying is, there's only so much you can do.

 

People are responsible for their own actions. When things go wrong, they IMMEDIATLEY look for someone ELSE to put the blame on. It's been like that since the beginning of time. Everyone would rather find a scapegoat rather than take the heat on themselves. In this situation, someone is doing the same thing, just posthumously.

[TedWilliams101]

HeadofSoxNation is right. It isn't always easy to tell if someone is drinking or not. I know many people who act perfectly normal when they are past the legal limit. How is a bartender supposed to know how much a guy has drank before they came to the bar? THEY CANT. The only way they could ever know for sure would be to have everyone take a breath test. That ain't going to happen. Its not black and white. Heck, someone could look/talk fine, seem perfectly ballanced, then get behind the wheel and kill someone. The bartender isn't responsible, the guy behind the wheel is.

 

It's like blaming the gun store for legally selling the Vtek shooter a gun. You alone are to beld held for your own actions. Period.

[redsoxrules]

I'm in my early 20s.

 

Look, it's unfortunate it happened. However, the law in the state where the person got the bartending job had this law on the books. That means the bartender needs to be aware of all of the liability issues that come along with being a bartender in the state of Missouri.

 

I think at the very least, if you are going to continue serving the alcohol to someone who is already intoxicated (which, I hear, is the main crux of the law in Missouri), then you have to try to make sure the guy doesn't get behind the wheel of the car. Getting drunk to the point where you are twice the legal limit and then being allowed to drive behind the wheel of a car is irresponsible. Mostly due to Hancock, but I do feel some blame needs to be placed on the bartender simply because of the explicit legislation in Missouri.

 

I assume you bartend in NY, and I don't know of any laws that would give the bartender liability like that so I won't comment.

 

if thats the case they should shut every bar down if their gonna make a stupid law like that , because there's NO WAY a bar/restaurant/club can watch 100-500 people all night , thats just ridiculous . If i had a son who did something that id blame him and not where he was , you cant stop someone from buying liquor , theyll always find a way

[Rodney Harrison]

Have they ever said what caused the car crash in the first place? The alcohol or the fact that he was using his cell phone prior to the crash?

[HeadOfSoxNation]

A guy emailed Jim Rome today and said this:

 

"A while back, I went out to the bar, got RIDICULOUSLY wasted, and that same night, I got my girlfriend pregnant. Can I sue the bar for child support?"

 

Obviously it was said tounge-in-cheek in reference to Hancock's dad looking for eeeeeeveryone possible to blame besides his son, but the scenario that the guy set up is, IMO, no more ridiculous than this whole thing.