[VioletlightHeron]

Just curious what the forum thinks about the following story:

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My take? I don't believe it was necessarily the right thing for the family to sue the concession company. I don't think they could have known their vendor got greedy and violated their policy on selling more beer than allowed. It is a tragedy but should the company be held responsible for the actions of an employee who most likely decided to ignore the policy on his own? My gut feeling is the concession company was sued because it has the deepest pockets and the most direct connection to the vendor.

[tragicallymike]

people who sue companies for things like this are assholes. But I should add that given the situation I would probably do the same thing.

[das_hips]

I think that is an absolutely ridiculous verdict... $135 million??? Why so much? $60 million in compensatory damages??? Thats way too much, let alone the $75 million in punitive damages. That opens up dangerous territory, especially with a monetary sum that high. Before long families will be sueing bars, liquour stores and Denny's for Christ's sakes...

The only one responsible is the guy who's sitting in prison for the next five years, and maybe the selifsh jerk who sold him extra beer for $10... but I don't think Aramark should have to shelf out that kinda cash...

[j-monster]

Thing is, companies are responsible for the actions of their employees while on the job. While it is possible the company could not have prevented this particular vendor from breaking the policy for selling someone only two beers at a time, maybe there was something it could have done. Had this vendor broken the policy before? If so, had he/she been caught and reprimanded or punished? If we knew the answers to those questions, it would go a long way to understanding how much liability the company really should bear in this case.

$135M is an exorbitant amount, but the family should have been entitled to a large award due to the extensive health care needs the girl will have for the rest of her life. Personally, I think it's too bad the guy who drove drunk and caused the accident got only 5 years in prison... they should have locked him up for a lot longer than that, in my opinion.

[Dilly_sAm]

I can certainly see the family's gripe....beer vendors at sports events just sell as much beer as possible. I was at a hockey game the other night and I watched one guy buy and consume 12 beers. Halfway through the third period he got into a fight and was kicked out. I can only assume that he drove home as drunk as a skunk.