This could get interesting if it goes to trial, which is far from a sure thing.

A Canyon resident is suing a man she says caused a wreck that killed her husband. What’s more, she’s suing two business establishments that served the co-defendant in the suit alcohol the day of the fatal wreck.

The plaintiff is Kristi Powell, whose husband — Kendrick — died in a Jan. 19, 2012 accident on Interstate 40. The defendants are Christopher Easterday, the driver of the other vehicle, Buffalo Wild Wings franchise owner Kendall Howard and The Jungle owner Chandra Brown. Powell filed suit in 181st District Court.

http://amarillo.com/news/latest-news/2013-12-07/wife-man-killed-drunken-driving-wreck-sues-jungle-buffalo-wild-wings

You hear about lawsuits such as this from time to time. States have laws that establish liability for business establishments that serve alcohol. Is it their responsibility to ensure that patrons are alert enough to drive? Does the lion’s share of responsibility rest with the customer who is consuming the alcohol? Should the customer realize when he or she has had too much to drive safely? Does the bartender have a responsibility if he or she believes the customer has had enough?

I’m not going to pass judgment. I’m only going to suggest that this case could be worth our attention if it goes to trial.

I won’t bet that it will. Indeed, a pre-trial settlement is likely to reveal plenty about whether the business owners believe they had a hand in this tragic death.