Dallas County Jury Awards $25 Million After Dram Shop Death
One driver was intoxicated and speeding when he lost control of his car, causing it to flip and catch fire. The passenger, who had been drinking at a bar earlier, died from his injuries. The passenger's mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the bar, the building owner, and the driver.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Wrongful Death Injuries
Wrongful death claims arise when a car accident fatality is caused by another party's negligence. These cases compensate surviving family members for their losses and the decedent's pain and suffering.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $25,000,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Wrongful Death, Death
Settlement Context
This settlement of $25,000,000 is above the median of $2,000,000 for wrongful death cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $504,000 to $5,000,000, based on 20 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In 2012, a man died in a Dallas County, Texas, car crash after a night of drinking. His mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2013 against a Dallas area lounge operating as Privae Lounge, its building owner, and the car's driver, who was the decedent's friend. The plaintiff alleged violations of the Texas Dram Shop Act and negligence.
The plaintiff asserted the lounge served the driver while he was visibly intoxicated. The driver, whose blood alcohol content was later found to be over twice the legal limit, was reportedly driving more than 100 mph when the car struck a curb and flipped. An investigation by the state's alcoholic beverage commission reportedly found the lounge sold alcohol to the driver after he became intoxicated. The decedent's own intoxication level was below the legal limit.
A Dallas County jury found the lounge, the driver, and the decedent all negligent, concluding their combined negligence proximately caused the death. The jury apportioned 48 percent of the fault to the lounge, 48 percent to the driver, and 4 percent to the decedent. Total damages of $25 million were awarded for loss of companionship, mental anguish, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.
Understanding This Case
- This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
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