Chicago - The family of Chinatown Seeks $20M from Lockport Cop After Fatal DUI

金牛银熊

Suit: Family Seeks $20M from Lockport Cop After Fatal DUI Crash
Updated: Tuesday, 12 Jan 2010, 7:45 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 12 Jan 2010, 7:45 PM CST

Sun-Times Media Wire

Chicago - The family of a Chinatown neighborhood man killed when an allegedly intoxicated off-duty Lockport police officer crashed into the car he was driving in late December filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday seeking more than $20 million.

Man Wong, 29, of 2417 S. Wentworth Ave., was injured in a Dec. 20, 2009, crash on the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) near South Central Avenue and was pronounced dead at 10:16 p.m. Dec. 20, 2009, at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. An autopsy determined Wong died of multiple injuries from an automobile accident.

Off-duty Lockport police officer Edward Stapinski was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI the day after the crash, Cook County State’s Attorney spokesman Andy Conklin said.

Stapinski, of Lockport, was allegedly driving south on the Stevenson Expressway about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2009, when the vehicle he was driving veered onto the left shoulder, struck the concrete median barrier and went over the median into the northbound lanes, where it struck a car driven by Wong, according to Illinois State Police District Chicago.

On Tuesday, John Wong, filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Stapinski, WestEnd Bar and Grill and the Four Corners Tavern Group seeking more than $20 million in damages.

An intoxicated Stapinski lost control of his vehicle and crashed head-on into Wong’s 2008 Toyota Camry, according to the suit. Within six hours before the crash, Stapinski became intoxicated at the WestEnd Bar and Grill at 1326 W. Madison St., the suit said.

The suit claims that Stapinski was “severely impaired” from his consumption of alcohol at the bar. Mount Sinai Hospital recorded Stapinski’s blood-alcohol level as 0.223 -- about three times more than the legal limit to drive in Illinois.

The suit claims Stapinski drove his car while intoxicated and while being "severely impaired" and also drove at a speed too great given the speed limits and road conditions. Stapinski also did not keep a proper lookout while driving and failed to stay in the proper direction of travel on the roadway. He operated his car in such a way that he lost control and hit the median and was generally negligent in operating his car, the suit alleged.

Wong left behind his mother, brother and aunt, who suffered grief and sorrow, mental pain and suffering, loss of support and society and other losses, the suit said.

The seven-count suit is seeking $10 million from Stapinski, plus the cost of court fees for Wong’s wrongful death.

The suit also seeks $10 million from Stapinski for wrongful death with willful and wanton misconduct; $50,000 for conscious pain and suffering from negligence; $50,000 for conscious pain and suffering from willful and wanton misconduct; $15,000 for burial and medical expenses and $15,000 for medical, funeral and burial expenses from willful and wanton misconduct.

The suit also claims Dram Shop Act and seeks judgment against Four Corners Tavern Inc., operator of the WestEnd Bar and Grill.

rabishh

what is DUI ?