Originally Posted By wonderingalice What a flippin' JOKE: <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/05/24/hancock.lawsuit.ap/index.html?cnn=yes" target="_blank">http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c om/2007/baseball/mlb/05/24/hancock.lawsuit.ap/index.html?cnn=yes</a> ST. LOUIS (AP) -- 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 31/2 hours. "It's understood that for the entire 31/2 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 his Geo Prism 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 Prism became stalled when it spun out after being cut off by another vehicle. Police said Hargrove noticed the stalled vehicle and stopped to help. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV. But 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." Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Well, I'd guess the owner of the Prism and the tow truck company, along with the tow truck driver, will be dismissed as defendants. Curious that they didn't go after the driver of the car that allegedly spun out the Prism, unless they don't know who that is. Unfortuantely, it's pretty standard practice to name this many defendants. As for the restaurant, since I don't know Missouri law, it's hard to say. They might have something on their books that indemnifies restaurants and bars to a degree, or not. I'd be interested to kow if there was any marijuana in his system. At some point, of course, Hancock has to be held responsible for his own actions regardless of who did what around him.
Originally Posted By jonvn "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." WHAT? Jeeze. Dad's going to end up paying these guy's legal bills, if I read this right.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger He forgot to include the manufacturer of the Prism, who made a car that would get to such a state as to stall out after spinning out. If you're going for deep pockets, go all the way.
Originally Posted By jmoore1966 The Dad should also sue himself and his wife for raising a lush and for setting such lousy standards of responsibility.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I understand grieving, but this borders on the ridiculous. I and I hazard a guess no one here knew Josh Hancock - but if his parents continually blamed the rest of the world for anything and everything that went wrong in his life -- they should sue themselves for being p poor parents..... The only possible litigant could be a bar overserving, but again Missouri law would have to enter into that. Who is named for the 8.55 grams of marijuana also found in the car -- the country of Colombia ? what a joke
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder FWIW, this is getting ripped on all manner of sports blogs and sports radio as well. Quite a large miscalculation on the part of Father Hancock.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 As a parent I feel sorry for any othetr parent that has to bury their child -- maybe that was the sympathy he was counting on.... but he miscalculated that sometimes bad things happen when you put yourself in a bad place.....and many people feel that way also. I guess he doesn;t care how bad the tow truck driver or the driver of the Geo prism feel having seen this happen already - then to be named as part of the cause...that has to really hurt... but the almighty buck $$ speaks to too many people today
Originally Posted By ClintFlint2 Poor daddy is upset that his gravy train has crashed. Hey daddy, why not go and make your own money and stop mucus feeding off of others.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger I'd comment further, but I'm finding hard to type while driving at 80mph up I-5. Besides, I'd have to put my beer down.
Originally Posted By jonvn You should get one of those hats that hold beer cans that let you drink through a straw. That'd be helpful for you.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger Heh. Had to google that one. I'd heard the story but didn't remember her name.
