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The Naples Daily News reported on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 that a Collier County jury awarded a plaintiff $60 million in a DUI suit against a North Naples pub. The pub was found negligent when its bartenders served an under-aged person too much alcohol resulting in permanent disabilities when the vehicle in which she was riding crashed into a tree in 2003.

The newspaper reported that the under-aged drinker, along with her boyfriend, brother and brother's girlfriend, all but one under-aged, went to the now-closed Spectator, a sports pub. The bartenders knew they were under-aged, but served them anyway. The driver of the vehicle dozed off and crashed head-on into a tree. The 19 year-old sustained brain damage, broken legs, a lacerated liver, multiple rib fractures and other injuries.

Serving alcohol to minors is illegal in Florida. The 2014 Florida Statute 562.11 states:

(1)(a)1. A person may not sell, give, serve, or permit to be served alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age or permit a person under 21 years of age to consume such beverages on the licensed premises. A person who violates this subparagraph commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who violates this subparagraph a second or subsequent time within 1 year after a prior conviction commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) reported on their website that on October 18, 2008, Natalie, an honor student, was preparing to start her sophomore year at Middle Tennessee State University and had dreams of studying abroad.  She was working at a restaurant and bar with a very “loose” policy on alcohol use. Despite the fact that Natalie was only 20, her employers saw no issues with allowing Natalie, and the other restaurant staff, to drink alcohol during and after their shifts; they even provided the drinks. Early in the morning on October 18th, after grabbing a couple of drinks with coworkers after her shift, Natalie got in her car to drive home to her apartment.  Unfortunately, she never made it. At 3:30 a.m., only three blocks away from the restaurant, Natalie crashed into a metal utility pole while exiting the highway and was ejected from her car.  She was taken off life support two days later.

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. says, "Restaurants and bars have the legal, and moral, responsibility of not serving alcohol to minors. The results of doing so are devastating not only for the minor being served the alcohol and driving, but also for anyone else who may be in the minor's vehicle or other vehicles on the road. Drunk driving is illegal and dangerous. For more information about Drunk Driving Laws, please go to my website: HurtByDrunkDriver.com - Drunk Driving Laws."

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney , Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.