TRENTON N.J. The lawyer for the family of a child paralyzed in a car crash with a drunken driver who was served at least six beers at a Giants football game in 1999 is running newspaper ads in search of witnesses who saw intoxicated fans being served alcohol at the stadium.
"The more witnesses, the better," said David Mazie, attorney for Antonia Verni, who was 2 years old when Daniel Lanzaro slammed his truck into her family's car following the football game.
Verni sued Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp., the beer vendor at the stadium, and won a record $135 million in a verdict that was later overturned by an appeals court. A new trial is scheduled to start in July.
Under state law, taverns, restaurants, hotels and sports venues can be held liable if they sell alcohol to visibly drunk patrons who later cause injuries to others.
According to Mazie, a number of people who have seen the ads have come forward, but Aramark attorney David Field said the witnesses "would be irrelevant because the only issue at trial is whether Lanzaro was visibly drunk when he was served. Aramark's [serving] policy is not part of the case." Field further stated he could ask the judge to bar those witnesses from testifying at the trial.