Woman sues bar, drunken patron

CHARLESTON – A woman is suing a bar and an unknown patron, claiming the bar allowed the patron to get drunk enough to fall into her and injure her.

Martha Hankins filed a lawsuit June 5 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Carnell Inc., doing business as The Blue Parrot and "John Doe."

Hankins claims she was at the Capitol Street bar on May 11, 2008, because her husband had been hired to play music there. Hankins alleges that there was a large crowd at the bar that evening.

She says Doe was drunk and collided with her while she had her back turned to the dance floor. She says the collision caused her to fall and break her left wrist and injure her left shoulder.

Hankins blames the bar for not providing appropriate separation between the dance floor and other seated or standing customers.

She also blames the bar for allowing patrons such as Doe to get so drunk that they lose control of their ability to maintain balance.

She's seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with legal costs.

Henry E. Wood III is representing the plaintiff. The case is before Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 09-C-1044