In Norfolk Superior Court, Kathi Meyer filed a Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuit against the people that allegedly made alcohol available to her daughter Taylor on the day that she died.
Taylor drowned while drunk. The body of the 17-year-old Plainville teen was found in a swamp. She disappeared after leaving an underage drinking party at the abandoned Norfolk airport. A two-day search ensued.
Named as defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit are siblings Paige and Brian Zuzick, Sean Flynn, Rachel Stark, and her mother Dianne, Matthew Dusseault, and Christopher Moran. Brian gave alcohol to Taylor and Paige. Flynn, a 21-year-old North Attleboro resident, bought the rum for Brian. Taylor allegedly had access to alcohol during a party at the Stark residence before she went to the party at the airport. Dusseault and Moran, who are both from Norfolk, are accused of bringing alcohol to the underage drinking party.
In her Norfolk wrongful death complaint, Kathi says that friends laughingly pointed Taylor toward the swamp instead of the street as she left the party at the airport. Kathi is accusing the defendants of negligence, wrongful death, conscious infliction of pain and punishment, and willful and reckless acts.
Underage Drinking
There is a reason why minors are not allowed to drink alcohol. The US Surgeon General reports that about 5,000 minors die every year because of underage drinking. Teens often do not know how to handle their liquor, which can lead to injuries and deaths from tragic car accidents, violent and sexual crimes, suicide, drug use, and other unfortunate incidents.
Mother files lawsuit after daughter’s drowning death at party, Boston Herald, January 13, 2010
Friends, parents sued in teen’s death, The Sun Chronicle, January 13, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Dangers of Teen Drinking, Federal Trade Commission
Underage Drinking, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
If your loved one died because they were over-served alcohol as an adult or illegally served alcohol as a minor, you may have grounds for pursing a Boston wrongful death lawsuit against all negligent parties.