A sports bar has agreed to pay one million dollars to the widow of a man who was killed in a Cobb County drunk driving accident.
The Sports Grill in Austell, Georgia has agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit after a Cobb County judge sanctioned the bar for destroying about four hours of videotape that showed the driver drinking.
The accident occurred on October 25, 2008. Thirty-six-year-old Cuneyt Erturk was driving home from his job at Domino's Pizza when he was struck and killed by a car driven by 28-year-old William Paul Davis IV.
The victim’s widow, Truvilla Erturk, filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming that the bar’s staff over-served Davis and did not stop him from driving drunk. She believes they played a role in her husband’s death.
In May, the bar was sanctioned for destroying more than four hours of videotape that might have proved the plaintiff's case. The Sports Grill is also accused of destroying the tabs for two customers who were drinking with Davis as well as the "spill sheet" that recorded complimentary drinks to patrons that night.
Davis is currently awaiting trial in Cobb County on charges of driving without headlights, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and first-degree vehicular homicide.