Article published by Bruce Vincent on February 20, 2013 in The Business Journal.
DALLAS, Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Attorneys from Dallas’ The Schmidt Firm, PLLC, won a $10.5 million dram shop verdict late yesterday against the Spearmint Rhino strip club and an intoxicated driver following a 2011 accident that claimed the life of a Granbury woman who was crushed under the wheels of a so-called “monster truck.”
The Schmidt Firm attorneys Michael E. Schmidt and C.L. “Mike” Schmidt successfully represented the family of Kasey McKenzie, who was 23 years old at the time of her death. Jurors in Judge Martin Lowy’s 101st District Court in Dallas deliberated for approximately three hours before reaching their unanimous verdict on Feb. 19, 2013. According to records maintained by VerdictSearch, the $10.5 million award represents the largest dram shop verdict awarded in Dallas County since 1985.
“On behalf of Kasey’s parents and her entire family, I want to thank the court and the jury for holding the Spearmint Rhino and Mr. Crutchfield responsible for causing Kasey’s senseless death,” says Michael Schmidt, lead trial counsel for Ms. McKenzie’s family. “Dallas is home to far too many alcohol-related traffic deaths, and Kasey’s family hopes this case will influence other businesses to protect the public by preventing drunk customers from getting behind the wheel.”
On March 17, 2011, Ms. McKenzie was walking through the parking lot at the Spearmint Rhino club on Composite Drive when she was struck and killed by a “monster truck” driven by Eric Brent Crutchfield of Dallas, who was 27 years old at the time. Evidence at the trial, including security camera footage, showed that Mr. Crutchfield was served more than 10 mixed drinks and shots during a four-hour period immediately prior to the fatal accident.
Mr. Crutchfield was convicted of manslaughter, and currently is serving a 10-year sentence for Ms. McKenzie’s death and an earlier drug-related charge at the Mineral Wells Unit. Jurors in Judge Lowy’s courtroom assessed 70 percent responsibility against Spearmint Rhino and 30 percent against Mr. Crutchfield.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC, focuses its practice on the representation of plaintiffs involved in traditional personal injury and wrongful death litigation and other catastrophic injury cases, as well as mass tort litigation involving defective or dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The Firm also handles a large number of business cases, for both plaintiffs and defendants, in addition to Oil & Gas litigation.
For more information on the verdict, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534, cell 214-728-6747, or bruce@androvett.com.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
