River North bar faces Dram Shop Act suit after patron allegedly drove, hit pedestrian

A sports bar on Chicago's Near North Side is being sued over claims it served alcohol to a patron accused of hitting a pedestrian with his car.

Jaime Kurzman filed a lawsuit May 19 in the Cook County Circuit Court against American Junkie River North LLC, doing business at American Junkie, 15 W. Illinois St.

Kurzman claims she sustained injures when she was crossing West Ontario Street while walking on North LaSalle Street on May 23, 2013, when Michael Lapato struck her with his 2013 BMW.

According to the suit, employees of American Junkie negligently sold or gave alcoholic beverages to Lapato, which caused him to become intoxicated, resulting in the accident.

Kurzman is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and court costs. She is being represented in the case by Chicago attorney Nicholas A. Rubino of William B. Meyers & Associates.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L005317.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.