Family of man killed in Lake Murray crash sues two restaurants
The wife and daughters of a man who was killed in a boating collision on Lake Murray are suing two lakefront restaurants, claiming that the businesses served too many alcoholic beverages to the person accused in the killing.
The family of Stan Kiser filed civil lawsuits against The Rusty Anchor and Liberty Tap Room and Grill Tuesday afternoon, stating that the restaurants continued to serve a man alcoholic drinks even though they “knew or should have known that he was intoxicated.”
In September, Kiser was boating on Lake Murray with his wife, Shawn, and daughter Morgan. A speed boat struck them, killing Stan and severely injuring Shawn and Morgan, authorities said. Because of her injuries, Shawn’s leg was amputated.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources charged 53-year-old Tracy Gordon with three counts of felony boating under the influence in the death and injuries.
The suit says that the restaurants continued to provide drinks to Gordon even though he was drunk.
“Once the facts unfold, we feel we will be probably dismissed from this lawsuit,” said Liberty co-owner Jerry Scheer.
Owners of The Rusty Anchor could not be reached before publication.
The lawsuits seek actual and punitive financial compensation from the restaurants in an amount to be determined by a jury.
“Those who sell alcohol for money in this State have real responsibilities to the communities where they do business. This case is a sad, tragic reminder of what happens when those responsibilities are not met,” said attorney Mullins McLeod, who also represents the Kiser family.
“These civil proceedings are necessary to effect full justice for the Kiser family and hopefully prompt changes in furtherance of safety for the boating public at large,” said attorney Marvin Infinger of the law firm Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms in Charleston, which, in part, filed the suit.
After the crash, the Kiser family started Safe The Lake, a group dedicated to boating safety that gained support from University of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
Shawn Kiser and Staley became friends and, following Kiser’s rehabilitation, the two walked across the Colonial Life Arena basketball court in February during a game.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 5:09 PM.