American Junkie sued by woman hit by drunk driver

(Above) American Junkie on West Illinois Street in River North, from the restaurant/sports bar’s Google+ page.

28-May-14 – A drunk driving accident in River North last year has resulted in a lawsuit – against the bar that allegedly served alcohol to the driver.

American Junkie is being sued by one of two women who were struck while crossing West Ontario Street on May 23, 2013.

Jaime Kurzman says she was walking on North LaSalle Street at about 10:10 p.m. when she was hit by a BMW going west on Ontario. Michael Lapato, a Lisle resident who, according to the lawsuit, had been drinking at American Junkie, drove the car. The bar/restaurant had been open on West Illinois Street for about two months.

Police said at the time of the accident that the women were crossing in the middle of the block, not at a crosswalk.

Kurzman and the other woman were taken by ambulance to a hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. Lapato, 26 years old at the time, was charged with driving under the influence, negligent driving, failure to reduce speed, and failure to yield to pedestrians.

The lawsuit was filed on May 19 in Cook County Circuit Court. Kurzman is seeking in excess of $50,000.