Drunken driver victim’s family gains lawsuit settlement
By Matt Troutman, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
A drunken driver,
Altobelli left the
"No amount of money could replace her,"
The Shafer family will receive more than
Thompson said the settlement closes a chapter on a "tragedy" that began when Altobelli got behind the wheel with a .23 blood-alcohol content, about three times the legal limit for driving, and smashed into the Shafers' minivan.
Altobelli eventually pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death. He remains behind bars in
The Shafers filed a personal injury lawsuit against Altobelli, a case that got off to a contentious start.
Altobelli's attorneys originally sought to dispute whether Altobelli's drunken actions made him liable for the crash, but they were too late in filing the necessary paperwork. Thompson also said
"It was set for jury trial on
The lawsuit listed the Green Lantern Bar in
The bar's ownership changed hands in October. The former owners could not be reached for comment.
Thompson said there's one bright spot in the whole "sad" affair: "The only good thing you could say about it is (
Shafer said the community in which his wife lived, worked, coached and volunteered paid back her kindness with support in "any aspect you could think of."
"When this happened, you find out what kind of community you live in," he said.
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