DJ Drunk-Driving Lawsuit Will Drop Reference To Irish
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)--The lawsuit claimed Dollar Rent-A-Car, a unit of Dollar
Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. (DTG), should have known a driver in a fatal
accident was prone to drink because he was from Ireland.
But after getting deluged with irate calls, the attorney who filed it said
Wednesday it was all a mistake and he actually considers himself an advocate
for the Irish.
"I want to express my deepest regret to the Irish who have been offended,"
John Stemberger said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I
recognize the mistake. I'm deleting references to that."
The lawsuit had been filed in March on behalf of the family of Carmel
Elizabeth Cunningham, of Ireland. Her boyfriend, Sean McGrath, 33, is
charged with drunk-driving manslaughter and other charges related to the
accident in the Plymouth Neon he had rented from Dollar.
Dollar "either knew or should have known about the unique cultural and
ethnic customs existing in Ireland which involve the regular consumption of
alcohol at 'Pubs' as a major component to Irish social life," according to
the original lawsuit filed in Orange County Circuit Court.
Moreover, Dollar "either knew or should have known that Sean McGrath would
have a high propensity to drink alcohol," the suit said.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest. He was not named in the lawsuit.
News of the suit drew the ire of the Irish-American community.
"That enrages me," said Kathleen Reineke, past president of the local Irish
American Club. "That would be like saying all blacks steal. It falls under
the same category."
Stemberger said he planned to refile the lawsuit with emphasis on the
different driving conditions in Ireland, such as driving on the left side of
the road instead of the right. He claimed he planned to amend the lawsuit
even before the barrage of complaints.
He said Dollar doesn't do nearly enough to teach drivers from the United
Kingdom about the road rules in the U.S., including the blood-alcohol
limits, open-container laws and the drinking age.
That sets up the Irish for a dangerous visit, he said.
"I'm going after Dollar because they need to do something about it,"
Stemberger said.
"I want Irish-Americans to know because of Dollar's negligence, Ireland has
lost one of its daughters," he said. "I view myself as an advocate trying to
protect the Irish, in this case."
Peyton Hodges, an attorney for Dollar, said he did not know Stemberger's
motivation for rewording the lawsuit.
"My guess is the sentiment was so overwhelming and so negative the guy
finally woke up," he said.
(END) DOW JONES NEWS 05-19-99
07:18 PM |
