COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Richland County jury has found has returned a $3.85 million negligence verdict in connection with a Columbia sports bar’s role in serving liquor to a drunk man who several hours later caused a fatal crash that killed a 6-year-old girl.
The State newspaper of Columbia reports that the jury deliberated more than eight hours in the civil case before reaching a verdict in favor of the family of Emma Longstreet.
The jury found the Loose Cockaboose Sports Bar was serving liquor after a state-mandated closing time, and that it had served a clearly intoxicated Billy Patrick Hutto.
Hutto, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for felony DUI involving death, testified that he was drunk when he arrived at the bar and drank three cocktails on New Year’s Day 2012.
