Man who downed 25 drinks, injured head on sidewalk sues downtown Vancouver bars
A bartender who suffered a serious head injury after downing dozens of alcoholic beverages in a single night has filed a lawsuit alleging he was over-served at a number of downtown Vancouver establishments.
Bradley Roger Johnson said he consumed 25 drinks over a period of about four hours after getting off work at The Kingston Taphouse and Grille on Aug. 23, 2016, including six double vodka sodas and six shots of whiskey.
As he was walking home at the end of the night, he fell backwards on Granville Street and struck his head on the sidewalk, leaving him with a "severe brain injury," according to his B.C. Supreme Court claim.
"Mr. Johnson fell as a result of his extreme state of intoxication," the lawsuit reads.
"There is both a legal and a common law prohibition against over-serving alcohol beverages … a visibly intoxicated patron should never be served more alcohol."
Johnson said his drinking began at The Kingston – a Richards Street bar that has been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – where he drank two double-vodka sodas after finishing his bartending shift at around 11 p.m.
About half an hour later, he moved on to Studio, a nightclub on Granville, where he allegedly downed two Strongbow ciders and two shots of Whiskey.
He then headed over to Relish, another bar on Nelson Street, at around 12:30 a.m. and ordered "approximately four 12-ounce Lonetree ciders, a double vodka and soda and a shot of Jameson Whiskey," according to his claim.
The last stop of the evening was back on Granville at The Roxy Cabaret. The lawsuit documents describe Johnson as a "very frequent patron" of the club, who was recognized by the bouncer and four different employees who allegedly served him alcohol.
Johnson ordered and received three rounds, each consisting of a double-vodka soda and a whiskey shot, at three different bars within the establishment, as well as one "further unidentified shot," according to his claim.
The lawsuit alleges he left the bar in a state of "extreme intoxication," and injured himself shortly after.
While in rehabilitation for his head injury, Johnson said he had to rely on his parents and others for support. He's seeking damages for health care-related costs and loss of earning capacity.
None of the allegations in his lawsuit have been proven, and two of the establishments named as defendants, The Roxy and Studio, have filed responses denying Johnson's version of events entirely.
The Roxy said Johnson was not over-served by staff, nor was he visibly intoxicated while leaving the club, saying he had "developed a high tolerance to alcohol” at the time of his accident.
"If the plaintiff was intoxicated at the time he departed The Roxy, which is expressly denied, the plaintiff left The Roxy in the care and company of persons who were, or alternatively who reasonably appeared to be, sober," the response reads.
"The defendants were entitled to assume that the plaintiff's companions would see that the plaintiff arrived safely at home."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.