Dutch Goose Inc., Jody Wood, and David Vallarino

Palo Alto, CA: (Aug-08-07) Richie Kieninger, a Menlo Park resident, filed charges against Dutch Goose Inc., a bar on Menlo Park, alleging that a bartender there served him four 32-ounce bottles of beer. The suit claimed that the then 19-year-old Kieninger left the bar and went to a friend's house where he continued to drink, and, according to different testimony, do drugs, under the supervision of his friend's mom, Jody Wood, who claimed to be sleeping during the party. About 10 people were allegedly at the home drinking in an adjacent room to Wood. Shortly after arriving, David Vallarino, a friend, challenged Kieninger to a wrestling match in the front yard. The entire scene was captured on a cell phone, including the fall that left Kieninger motionless and injured. The suit alleged that the Dutch Goose bartender served an intoxicated minor, that Wood was negligent in her supervision and that Vallarino behaved in a careless and negligent manner.

After the accident, Kieninger has confined to a motorized wheelchair with minimal arm and hand movement and is dependent on his family's assistance for meals and grooming. The accident resulted in a C5 burst fracture in his spine, an injury that has left him almost completely paralyzed. Although none of the defendants admitted any wrongdoing or liability, in order to avoid costly and protracted litigation and trial, their insurance companies opted to settle. Dutch Goose settled for $1 million, while homeowner's insurance policies for Wood and Vallarino paid out $305,000. [PALO ALTO DAILY: INTOXICATED PARALYZATION]

Legal Help

If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please click the link below.
Published on Aug-9-07