SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Marriott International, Inc. could be held liable after a drunk employee drove from a company holiday party at the Marriott Del Mar and crashed into the car of a young doctor, killing him.
Dr. Jared Purton, a 33-year-old immunologist from the Scripps Research Institure, was killed in a violent car crash on Sunday, December 13, 2009 when a drunk driver crashed into his car at 109 mph on North Torrey Pines Road.
The drunk driver, Michael Landri, had been drinking at a holiday party with co-workers at the Marriott Del Mar. At the time Landri crashed into the rear of Dr. Purton's car, which was less than one hour after Landri left the company party, his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.
In 2013, the Court of Appeals through a published decision called Purton v. Marriott International, Inc., held that Marriott could be held responsible for the acts of Michael Landri, so long as the risk that the Marriott created by getting Michael Landri intoxicated at the company party resulted in the death of Dr. Purton.
The parents of Dr. Purton, Christine Purton and Alan Purton, have brought the lawsuit against the Marriott for the untimely death of their son.