“Significant cases with significant losses”, says plaintiff’s lawyer

An Oconee pre-trial ruling this afternoon in a wrongful  death civil case that arose after a 2020 car accident that took three lives.  Common Pleas Judge McIntosh denied a defense motion to dismiss his client, 1698 Wells Highway Marathon LLC, but he wants discovery, the process of gathering information and evidence, to continue.  1698 is the limited liability company that operates a convenience/gas station at that Wells Highway address. As explained by its lawyer Zachary Turner, 1698 did not own or operate the business on the day when, the plaintiffs say, a vehicle ran off a road hitting an embankment, a fence, and a pole and causing significant injuries to the driver and two passengers.  In the lawsuit Black versus Marathon and others, it’s alleged the convenience store was negligent when it sold alcoholic beverages to Divonte Black, a minor under 21, who consumed the alcohol and became intoxicated. Driver Black lost his life, along with passenger Lenae Ridge.  Lawyers for both sides are disputing whether 1698 bears liability, considering it did not become the business owner until two years later.  Doug Patrick, lawyer for the Ridge estate, wants further discovery to determine whether 1698 is liable as a successor owner.