February 11 2009
$2.5 Million Paid to Injured Young Man in Partial Settlement
MOM WHO ALLOWED UNDERAGE DRINKING AT LAKE FOREST PARTY PAYS MILLIONS IN CIVIL SUIT
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS – Parents who provide a safe-haven for underage drinkers should take note of the $2.5 million partial settlement approved by Judge Christopher Starck in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Lake County on February 11, 2009. Plaintiff lawyers Patrick A. Salvi and Patrick A. Salvi II of Salvi Schostok & Pritchard P.C. alleged that Lauralee Pfeifer of Lake Forest (IL) allowed a chain of events to occur that ultimately led to a car accident that forever changed the life of Lake Forest teenager, George Baldwin, now 22-years-old.
During the late afternoon of November 19, 2006, Baldwin’s lawyers claimed that Lauralee Pfeifer had a duty to supervise the activities occurring in her home after her daughters, ages 16 and 17, invited teenage friends over for a party. Despite numerous opportunities to step in and stop the beer drinking occurring in an upstairs bedroom, Mrs. Pfeifer did nothing to prevent the teenagers’ intoxication. When her husband, Brandt arrived at their house, the teenagers in the home scrambled to leave.
Two of those who were asked to leave the party were William Klairmont and George Baldwin, then ages 18 and 19, respectively. William had driven to the party earlier in the day and after consuming a number of alcoholic beverages at the Pfeifer residence, was forced to drive home. While traveling north on Route 43 in Lake Bluff, William lost control of the vehicle he was driving—crashing into a utility box. The accident paralyzed the vehicle's passenger, George, from the chest down. The remaining case against the driver, William Klairmont, and his insurance companies will proceed to trial on March 2, 2009 in Waukegan. In the upcoming trial William has admitted fault and George is not accused of any wrong doing.
This case is similar to the Deerfield (IL) parents, Jeffrey and Sara Hutsell who made national news when they were found criminally guilty of allowing their son’s friends to drink in their home – resulting in the death of two teenagers.
"The growing trend in society is to hold parents accountable when serious injury or death results from otherwise preventable underage drinking," said Patrick Salvi II. "As one can see with this settlement, the consequences for parents can be civil liability. The case was brought under a relatively new Illinois law entitled, 'Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act' which allows for severe civil penalties for serving alcohol to minors under 18-years-old," said Salvi.
"The $2.5 million payment represents the entire amount of Lauralee Pfeifer’s homeowner’s insurance. George could have insisted on pursuing Mrs. Pfeifer’s assets beyond her insurance limit but decided against it," Salvi added.
