The Death of Amanda Jax: A Call for Personal Responsibility

Once again, an alcohol-related tragedy has occurred and has sent systemic shockwaves throughout a small, Minnesota college-community. Amanda Jax was celebrating her 21st birthday and died of alcohol poisoning. Without question, it was an avoidable death of a young, attractive college female.

Now it’s “Lawsuit Time!” Read: http://www.startribune.com/local/16070517.html

The family has a very reasonable right to be disappointed about the death of their daughter. But, at what point are they going to realize that their daughter was a rational-thinking, college-educated citizen with personal responsibilities.

First and foremost, the family is ignoring three facts about Jax’s lifestyles:
1) Jax was a frequent underage binge drinker, and
2) She suffered from subjected herself to a serious eating disorder, and
3) She had received two DUI before the age of 21

Secondly, they need to acknowledge that Jax was responsible for her own choices in her life. She was responsible to choose how to feel, think and drink. The Jax family should not be blaming others for the poor lifestyle choices that lead to the death of their daughter.

Who exactly is the family suing?

Blattner Enterprises Inc.: the Company that owns the establishment and sold Jax her final drinks.

Hannah M. Becker: college-friend and roommate, who ordered a long-island ice tea for her friend.

Kathryn A. Lensing: A college-friend, and roommate, who gave one-or-two beers at their apartment before they departed to the bar scene for the night.

Richard T. Johnson: A friend who went out drinking with Jax, and allegedy shared a picture of beer with her and friends.

Jonathan R. McIntyre: A friend who bought Jax a birthday shot and at the end of the night, he allegedly carried her to the couch after she had passed out.

Per David Kvalsten: A friend who bought Jax a Stoplight drink (2-to-3 shots).

Now, for the kicker: The family is suing …

The Bonding Company: who provided a bond used by Blattner Enterprises to obtain the liquor license for Sidelines.

(This is the worst example of lawsuits gone crazy – it’s like taking out a loan from Wells Fargo to purchase a new car. Then drinking, driving and killing a person, then in turn, blaming Wells Fargo for approving you the loan, or even better yet, suing the car company for not posting a sticker on your steering wheel that reads, “Don’t Drink and Drive.”)

Filing lawsuits against Jax’s (probably already broke) college-friends will not bring back Amanda. It will do nothing but pour salt on healing wounds. Amanda’s friends are in dire turmoil and mourning, too. Please consider their feelings.

Suggestion: Maybe Jax’s parents should file a wrongful death suit against themselves for not raising a more responsible child?

 

Other examples of frivolous alcohol-related lawsuits:

West Virginia: Wasn’t his fault for laying drunk under truck:
http://www.overlawyered.com/archives/02/aug2.html#0816a

Pennsylvania: Man drunk at a nightclub climbs a high voltage tower on railroad tracks and gets 30,000 volts – he sues the bar:
http://www.overlawyered.com/archives/99sept2.html#990917d