Two Northeast Minneapolis Bars Sued In Fatal Drunk Driving Crash

The family of a man who died in a traffic crash is suing two Northeast Minneapolis bars, claiming the drunk driver involved was over-served alcohol and that led to the crash.

Northeast Social Club and Mayslack's Bar and Grill were the bars the drunk driver was at prior to the accident, according to the complaint, filed on Aug. 15. The case is now before Hennepin County's Civil Court.

Lawyer Paul Downes has represented the family of Brandon Pearson, who was killed riding his motorcycle in Northeast Minneapolis on Nov. 8, 2015, since after the crash. Hannah Weyh, another defendant in this case, was drunk when she hit Pearson, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in 2016, and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Weyh worked at Northeast Social Club on the day of the crash and, according to the civil complaint, consumed alcohol while working and continued to be served after becoming intoxicated. The complaint says Weyh then continued drinking at Mayslack's. She then drove her car, colliding with a motorcycle driven by Pearson.

Downes says the bars are liable under the Dram Shop Law, which makes a business that sells alcoholic drinks to a drinker who is obviously intoxicated or close to it, strictly liable to anyone injured by a drunken patron or guest.

Weyh's attorney declined to comment on the case.

Joe Wagner, the owner of Northeast Social Club, disputed the allegations, and Dean Jacklitch, the owner of Mayslack's, declined to comment. Wagner also owns Minneapolis-based Eat Street Social, which was not named in the case.