Dartmouth Clubs Inc., doing business as King’s Inn, was recently named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of David M. dosSantos, a Dartmouth man was was killed when a drunk driver crashed into him last year. A bar supervisor identified as John Doe is also named as a defendant in the suit. The family is seeking $4.5 million and is represented by Michael Franco, a New Bedford lawyer. According to the suit, servers at the King’s Inn served alcohol to the man “charged with causing the fatal crash.”
According to the lawsuit, the fatal accident occurred back on November 13, 2018, around 1:25 in the morning. DosSantos, the father of two young children, “was traveling south through the intersection of Route 140 and Kempton Street when his car was struck broadside on the driver’s side by a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, operated by Justin M. Castro, 28, of New Bedford after he ran the red light.” Tests later revealed Castro’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .223, way over the state’s legal limit. Additionally, his vehicle was also traveling 63 mph in a 35 mph zone. As a result, Castro has since been charged and his case is pending.
The suit argues that the King’s Inn should have known when to stop serving Castro. It states:
“The King’s Inn served alcohol to a highly intoxicated customer, who then got behind the wheel of a car and caused the death of David dosSantos…Staff at the King’s Inn allowed Castro to get behind the wheel of a car, knowing that he was intoxicated, and knowing that he was a danger to innocent people on the roads…As a result of conduct by the King’s Inn and John Doe that was negligent, grossly negligent, and/or reckless, David dosSantos lost his life.”
Franco added:
“David’s death was a tragedy that should never have happened. The lawsuit has been brought to bring justice to David’s family and to make the King’s Inn aware of its important responsibility to protect innocent people on the road from its customers who drink and drive.”
State police investigator Christopher J. Dumont also chimed in and said “video surveillance showed that Castro consumed at least six beers in the two hours and forty-five minutes prior to the crash.” Before drinking at King’s Inn, Castro visited Ryan’s Sports Pub where his “alcohol consumption was observed by several witnesses” and caught on video surveillance.
Sources:
Wrongful death suit filed against King’s Inn in Dartmouth
Family of father killed in crash files $4.5 million lawsuit against King’s Inn
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