Mom Held Liable for $2.5 Million Lawsuit in Illinois
Posted on Feb 18, 2009 3:30pm PST
In Lake Forest, Illinois, a mother named Lauralee Pfeifer was held liable for allowing underage drinking to occur in her home approximately 3 years ago. According to reports, an injury lawsuit was filed against the mother after one of the underage drinkers got into a
car accident. The plaintiff, 19 year old George Baldwin, was paralyzed from the chest down due to the auto accident that occurred on November 19, 2006 after he had been drinking at Pfeifer's home. Lake County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Starck ruled that Pfeifer was negligent and ordered her to relinquish $2.5 million to Baldwin for his permanent injuries.
Patrick Salvi, Baldwin's personal injury lawyer, said that, "The growing trend in society is to hold parents accountable when serious injury or death results from otherwise preventable underage drinking." He said that when parents allow underage drinking, they can face consequences such as civil liability. Salvi argued that Pfiefer, "had a duty to supervise the activities occurring in her home." Pfeifer had two daughters who were 16 and 17 at the time of the accident. Her daughters had invited teenagers over for a party at their home. The plaintiff's attorney claimed that Pfeifer had numerous chances to stop the drinking, but she never did.
The legal teams allege that the drinking did not end until Pfeifer's husband returned home. At that time, the teenagers left Pfeifer's home. When the teens left, Baldwin rode in a car with 19 year old William Klarimont. Klarimont, who was under the influence of alcohol, crashed his car into a utility box in Lake Bluff while traveling north. He was later charged with underage DUI, but Baldwin did not face any criminal charges.
The $2.5 million award represents the total amount of Pfeifer's homeowner's insurance, which is what the defense team is after at this time. Pfeifer's insurance company will begin trial on March 2, 2009.
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