Personal Injury Law

Chicago Wrongful Death Lawsuit Blames Car Dealer Agents for Mans Drinking Death

In Illinois, the mother of a Joe Rizza Ford employee is suing two of the company?s car dealer agents for her son?s wrongful death. Kevin Devuono died after he was found unconscious in a Rizza-owned motor vehicle in downtown Chicago.

Her Chicago wrongful death lawsuit names Anthony Rizza and John Rizza as two of the defendants. According to the complaint, Devuono, who was a finance director at the Ford dealership, met with the two men at an Orland Hills bar. John Rizza then asked him to drive him to the Buzz nightclub. Devuono became so drunk, the lawsuit contends he required medical care.

Rather than get him medical attention, the lawsuit says John Rizza drove and parked the vehicle. Devuno remained in the car in freezing weather until he was found by a tow truck driver. The Chicago wrongful death lawsuit also names the Buzz nightclub as one of the defendants.

Dram Shop Injuries
Under the Illinois Liquor Control Act, a business owner can be held liable for causing a person to become legally drunk. If someone is injured by a drunk driver or another drunken party, the injured party is allowed to sue the drunk person, the business that sold or served the alcohol to the drunk person, as well as any other parties that may have acted negligently to cause the personal injury accident.

Illinois Wrongful Death
The surviving family members of someone who died in a preventable accident can sue the party who engaged in the negligent, reckless, or careless act that may have caused or contributed to their loved one's wrongful death. Illinois has a 2-year statute of limitations from the date of death for filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Car dealer agents sued over employee's death, Chicago Tribune, December 19, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Illinois Liquor Control Act

Buzz, the Club-

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on December 21, 2008 (boomark / email).