Father of Cardinal's pitcher killed in DUI sues bar & tow truck driver HE HIT! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 05-25-2007, 12:10 AM

http://sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/h...00010000000001

The father of the Cardinal's pitcher, Josh Hancock, who was killed in a car crash is suing not only the restaurant/bar his son drank at, but also the tow truck driver he hit!!! The father is stating the tow truck driver, who was assisting a stalled motorist, took a very long time with that stalled vehicle and had he not been there "that long" his son would not have crashed into his tow truck and killed himself!!!! What kind of bullsh*t is that!!???

Hancock's Dad Sues Restaurant Over Son's Death
Authorities Say Pitcher's BAC Nearly Twice Legal Limit
By JIM SALTER
AP Sports
ST. LOUIS (May 24) - The father of Josh Hancock filed suit Thursday, claiming a restaurant provided drinks to the St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him.

The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court by Dean Hancock of Tupelo, Miss., does not specify damages. Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is a defendant in the case along with Shannon's daughter, Patricia Shannon Van Matre, the restaurant manager.

Other defendants include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.

The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants.

Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood content of nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding, using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, Police Chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident. Marijuana also was found in the SUV.

Mokwa said Hancock went to Shannon's not long after the Cardinals played a day game against the Chicago Cubs on April 28. The lawsuit claimed that Hancock was a regular at the restaurant bar and was there for more than 3 1/2 hours.

"It's understood that for the entire 3 1/2 hours that Josh Hancock was there that he was handed drinks," Keith Kantack, a lawyer for Dean Hancock, said. "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."

A person answering phones at the restaurant declined comment. A message left with Van Matre was not returned.

The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing the vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway, and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Hargrove parked the tow truck behind the stalled car, and police said he arrived there moments before the truck was struck by Hancock's SUV. Kantack said the tow truck may have been there up to 15 minutes, yet failed to get the stalled vehicle out of the way.

"Were the police contacted?" Kantack asked. "Why weren't flares put out? Why was the tow truck there for an exorbitant amount of time?"

Tolar did not have a listed telephone number. Calls to the towing company were met with a busy signal.

Kantack said others could be added later as defendants in the suit. He declined to speculate on whether the Cardinals or Major League Baseball could be added to the suit, but said the Hancock family has been "overwhelmed by the support and respect the Cardinals have shown since Josh's passing."

Dean Hancock said in a statement that the "facts and circumstances" of Josh's death "have caused great pain to all of Josh's family." As administrator of his son's estate, Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death."

That last sentence just makes me shake my head, "...untimely and unnecessary death." But for the fact that his son was drinking and is an adult of legal age to do so, that is the ONLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS MATTER.

Brian Damage · 05-25-2007, 12:20 AM

I can understand suing a bar, but the tow truck driver??? Nah!

Janice · 05-25-2007, 12:35 AM

Why not just sue the beer company or whatever it was he drank that caused him to kill himself.

TripperFan · 05-25-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Why not just sue the beer company or whatever it was he drank that caused him to kill himself.

Oh I'm sure he'll add them onto the suit also!

Just kills me when people blame the bars, tobacco companies, etc. for their own stupidity. This is the craziest yet. Why doesn't he also sue the poor motorist who needed the tow truck driver's assistance in the first place. Or the people who built the road?

There's a wart on the frog, on the log, in the bottom of the sea.........

catlover79 · 05-25-2007, 01:32 PM

If the judge had any sense, he'd throw this case out the minute he gets it. It was his own son who was stupid enough not to get a designated driver. Some people just make me...GRRR.

TJL · 05-25-2007, 02:02 PM

I'm surprized they didn't sue the cell phone manufacturer for making a product that distracts people while they are driving.

The car manufacturer should also be sued for not making a car that automatically puts a seatbelt on you when you get in the driver's seat.

He should also sue Major League Baseball for scheduling a Cardinals game durning the day. If the team was playing at night, then he wouldn't have been able to go to that bar and get drunk.

Pathetic.

TheHappyBurgerMeister · 05-25-2007, 02:13 PM

That is just unbelieveable! I just skimmed that article because I already heard about all this on the radio the other day. Why can't he just accept that his son was irresponsible and made a stupid mistake?! Also, I heard that when he was leaving the bar the workers or his friends at the bar tried to get him to use a taxi, but he refused!

Ireneparalegal · 05-25-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHappyBurgerMeister

That is just unbelieveable! I just skimmed that article because I already heard about all this on the radio the other day. Why can't he just accept that his son was irresponsible and made a stupid mistake?! Also, I heard that when he was leaving the bar the workers or his friends at the bar tried to get him to use a taxi, but he refused!

Yep, I heard that too. Seems no one is responsible for themselves anymore. If one is drunk and staggering out of a business, you call the police if they don't heed the advice of taking a taxi.

I am disgusted by this father just not accepting the fact his adult son could've killed many more people other than HIMSELF!

Dynomite · 05-25-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

If the judge had any sense, he'd throw this case out the minute he gets it. It was his own son who was stupid enough not to get a designated driver. Some people just make me...GRRR.

I agree with you! Josh Hancock chose to get behind the wheel after drinking, and the result is he killed himself by crashing his rented SUV after driving drunk. The bar offered to call him a cab, but he refused and the towing company was obviously in the middle of a routine tow job. Josh Hancock's father has no case against either the bar, where his son refused a cab after he'd been drinking, nor against the towing company, after his son, while driving drunk, crashed into the tow truck. Expect this case to be dismissed.

catlover79 · 05-25-2007, 04:51 PM

Forgive me for being callous, but I think stupidity runs in this family. Not to mention cluelessness.

dawsongirl · 05-25-2007, 05:57 PM

Hmm...his wealthy son is dead...now daddy's poor!! Better come up with a way to make money that doesn't involve working!

05-25-2007, 12:10 AM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Father of Cardinal's pitcher killed in DUI sues bar & tow truck driver HE HIT! http://sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/h...00010000000001 The father of the Cardinal's pitcher, Josh Hancock, who was killed in a car crash is suing not only the restaurant/bar his son drank at, but also the tow truck driver he hit!!! The father is stating the tow truck driver, who was assisting a stalled motorist, took a very long time with that stalled vehicle and had he not been there "that long" his son would not have crashed into his tow truck and killed himself!!!! What kind of bullsh*t is that!!??? Hancock's Dad Sues Restaurant Over Son's Death Authorities Say Pitcher's BAC Nearly Twice Legal Limit By JIM SALTER AP Sports ST. LOUIS (May 24) - The father of Josh Hancock filed suit Thursday, claiming a restaurant provided drinks to the St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him. The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court by Dean Hancock of Tupelo, Miss., does not specify damages. Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is a defendant in the case along with Shannon's daughter, Patricia Shannon Van Matre, the restaurant manager. Other defendants include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove. The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants. Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood content of nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding, using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, Police Chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident. Marijuana also was found in the SUV. Mokwa said Hancock went to Shannon's not long after the Cardinals played a day game against the Chicago Cubs on April 28. The lawsuit claimed that Hancock was a regular at the restaurant bar and was there for more than 3 1/2 hours. "It's understood that for the entire 3 1/2 hours that Josh Hancock was there that he was handed drinks," Keith Kantack, a lawyer for Dean Hancock, said. "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink." A person answering phones at the restaurant declined comment. A message left with Van Matre was not returned. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing the vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway, and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic. Hargrove parked the tow truck behind the stalled car, and police said he arrived there moments before the truck was struck by Hancock's SUV. Kantack said the tow truck may have been there up to 15 minutes, yet failed to get the stalled vehicle out of the way. "Were the police contacted?" Kantack asked. "Why weren't flares put out? Why was the tow truck there for an exorbitant amount of time?" Tolar did not have a listed telephone number. Calls to the towing company were met with a busy signal. Kantack said others could be added later as defendants in the suit. He declined to speculate on whether the Cardinals or Major League Baseball could be added to the suit, but said the Hancock family has been "overwhelmed by the support and respect the Cardinals have shown since Josh's passing." Dean Hancock said in a statement that the "facts and circumstances" of Josh's death "have caused great pain to all of Josh's family." As administrator of his son's estate, Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death." That last sentence just makes me shake my head, "...untimely and unnecessary death." But for the fact that his son was drinking and is an adult of legal age to do so, that is the ONLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS MATTER.
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05-25-2007, 12:20 AM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I can understand suing a bar, but the tow truck driver??? Nah!
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05-25-2007, 01:32 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	If the judge had any sense, he'd throw this case out the minute he gets it. It was his own son who was stupid enough not to get a designated driver. Some people just make me...GRRR.
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05-25-2007, 02:02 PM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I'm surprized they didn't sue the cell phone manufacturer for making a product that distracts people while they are driving. The car manufacturer should also be sued for not making a car that automatically puts a seatbelt on you when you get in the driver's seat. He should also sue Major League Baseball for scheduling a Cardinals game durning the day. If the team was playing at night, then he wouldn't have been able to go to that bar and get drunk. Pathetic.
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05-25-2007, 02:13 PM	#7
TheHappyBurgerMeister Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 23, 2002 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,209	That is just unbelieveable! I just skimmed that article because I already heard about all this on the radio the other day. Why can't he just accept that his son was irresponsible and made a stupid mistake?! Also, I heard that when he was leaving the bar the workers or his friends at the bar tried to get him to use a taxi, but he refused!
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05-25-2007, 12:35 AM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Why not just sue the beer company or whatever it was he drank that caused him to kill himself.

05-25-2007, 04:51 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Forgive me for being callous, but I think stupidity runs in this family. Not to mention cluelessness.

05-25-2007, 05:57 PM	#11
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Hmm...his wealthy son is dead...now daddy's poor!! Better come up with a way to make money that doesn't involve working!