Two CT bars face potential lawsuits for role in hit

Two bars in Waterbury that police say served a total of 16 drinks to a former city official before he allegedly struck a 17-year-old on a scooter have been given notice of potential plans to file lawsuits under the Dram Shop Act.

Waterbury-based attorney Ioannis Kaloidis — who represents the family of 17-year-old Bryan Calle — said both the Verdi restaurant at the Western Hills Golf Club and The Cave received notice this week, adding that litigation is the last thing on the minds of Calle's parents, whose thoughts are fully with their son.

"They’re praying for a miracle," Kaloidis said.

Calle has been at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford since he was struck by a motorist on May 26 shortly after midnight while driving his scooter home from his job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. The teen was on life support following the accident and was kept in a medically-induced coma after suffering multiple skull fractures and a brain bleed, among other injuries.

Kaloidis on Friday said Calle is able to breathe on his own with minimal assistance from a ventilator but has shown no other positive signs of improvement. He added that the boy's parents, who arrived in Connecticut from Ecuador on Sunday, are very religious and still hoping for the best.

Warrant: Former Waterbury city official consumed 16 drinks prior to hit-and-run that left teen on life support

The Waterbury Police Department has charged John Egan, 58, with evading responsibility and failure to yield the right of way in connection with the accident that injured Calle, which was reported at the intersection of West Main Street and Highland Avenue.

Egan, who resigned as chairman of the Waterbury Zoning Commission following the accident, was allegedly seen on video surveillance consuming 14 alcoholic beverages at Verdi in the hours before the crash and had two more beers at The Cave before leaving the East Main Street bar between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, according to the arrest warrant affidavit in the case. Police have not charged Egan with driving under the influence.

Police allege Egan pulled over briefly following the accident and took off before officers arrived, according to the affidavit. Investigators said they were able to tie broken car parts at the scene to his Cadillac XT5 SUV.

Kaloidis on Friday said the notice filed this week under the Dram Shop Act — which must be done within 120 days of an incident — was done so as to not preclude the family from possibly filing any litigation down the road.

"No litigation has been contemplated," Kaloidis said. "We have not even had those conversations."

Under the Dram Shop Act, bars can be held liable for up to $250,000 in damages for actions caused by an intoxicated patron.

According to the arrest warrant for Egan — who is free on a $50,000 bond while the charges are pending — police uncovered two bar tabs in his name at the Verdi restaurant at the Western Hills Golf Club, one paid for at 8:29 p.m. and the other at 10 p.m. the night of the crash.

Surveillance footage from the restaurant, police wrote in the affidavit, showed Egan consuming the 14 drinks he purchased at Verdi. Surveillance also showed he left the golf course at about 10:04 p.m. before a worker at The Cave on East Main Street told police he arrived there sometime before 10:30 p.m., according to the affidavit.

The worker at The Cave said Egan ordered two 12-ounce beers before leaving between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, and that he did not appear intoxicated, the affidavit said.

Neither Verdi nor The Cave could be reached for comment Friday.

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