Suit Filed in Death of Cardinals' Pitcher

[freedom78]

Dead Cardinal pitcher's dad sues sports bar
Dean Hancock says son was served alcohol even though he was drunk

ST. LOUIS - 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? hours.

?It?s understood that for the entire 3? 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 his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway, and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic. A police report said the car became stalled when it spun out after being cut off by another vehicle.

?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.?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18848921/
*************************************************************************************
Proving once again that the idea of personal responsibility is dead in America. 

[faldor]

Let the man rest in peace for god sakes.  He got drunk at a bar, then drove, then crashed, then died.  Let's blame the bar, the tow truck, anyone but Josh Hancock. 

[tim_m]

I just love how society has become. Blame everyone but the person responsible.  It sucks he died but seriously c'mon.

[Krispy Kreme]

Let the man rest in peace for god sakes.? He got drunk at a bar, then drove, then crashed, then died.? Let's blame the bar, the tow truck, anyone but Josh Hancock.?

I agree 100%. It is  what America has become. And it is sad. The lack of personal  responsibility.

[tim_m]

Let the man rest in peace for god sakes.  He got drunk at a bar, then drove, then crashed, then died.  Let's blame the bar, the tow truck, anyone but Josh Hancock. 

I agree 100%. It is  what America has become. And it is sad. The lack of personal  responsibility.

Sadly it is.

[Juanjay]

Well we just opened a bar / venue up and to get our liquor license we have been told not to serve people that are obviously drunk or we will be liable AND risk losing the bar. So if he was obviously tanked it is the responsibility of the bartenders/managers/security to cut him off. Maybe not in St Louis but I know that's how it is here.

That all being said it's the dude's fault he died no one forced him to get into a car and drive, should someone have taken his keys? Probably, but its the responsibility of the individual not to kill himself. At least he didn't kill a family or something.

[Krispy Kreme]

The father is not just suing the bar, but the tow truck company, the guy who was parked in the lane as he helped someone  else, and anyone else he can think of. The thing about America is not just the lack of personal responsibility, but also the search for a big payoff when a tragedy occurs. The father wants to make some big $$ so he doesn't have to work, and he is  using his son's death as the road to riches. Sick sick sick.

To the father: maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been drinking before the bar, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been drinking at the bar, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been smoking weed, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not speeding, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been talking on the cell phone instead of paying attention, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been planning on doing more drinking at a different bar.

Something to think about, dad.

[tim_m]

The father is not just suing the bar, but the tow truck company, the guy who was parked in the lane as he helped someone  else, and anyone else he can think of. The thing about America is not just the lack of personal responsibility, but also the search for a big payoff when a tragedy occurs. The father wants to make some big $$ so he doesn't have to work, and he is  using his son's death as the road to riches. Sick sick sick.

To the father: maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been drinking before the bar, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been drinking at the bar, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been smoking weed, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not speeding, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been talking on the cell phone instead of paying attention, maybe your son would not be dead if he had not been planning on doing more drinking at a different bar.

Something to think about, dad.

agreed!

[freedom78]

The father wants to make some big $$ so he doesn't have to work, and he is  using his son's death as the road to riches. Sick sick sick.

I don't think it's that sinister.  I just think a grieving man is lashing out, and wants to place blame, because he thinks he'll feel better if someone is somehow held responsible for his son's death.  That's not sick...it's sad.  What's sick is the fuckin' lawyer that you KNOW is encouraging the suit.  After all, the bar is owned by a former ballplayer, so there's at least SOME money to be had, there...don't be surprised if its settled, and John Q. Greedy-Lawyer smiles all the way to the bank.

[Krispy Kreme]

Since the father is basing his claim on what others "should have done," hopefully, a judge with balls will throw the case out of court and lecture the father about being a better parent, including the fact that he "should have" taught his son not to drink and drive.

[Axl4Prez2004]

I agree with all you guys.  It's so fucking sad.  The lawsuit is disgusting.

BTW, did anybody else get a sick chuckle out of the fact the player's manager is one Tony LaRussa who if I'm not mistaken, during Spring Training was found drunk and passed out on his car horn in an intersection?  I'm pretty sure Larussa had a talk with Hancock a few days before his death.....must have seemed very genuine, eh?

...I wonder if Hancock was listening to Crash Diet on that last ride.  (yes, that was tasteless, but dammit, what he did was even more disgusting.  I'm glad he didn't have any kids left behind and didn't kill anyone else.)