• 06
  • August
    2010

Isaac Holdsambeck, 19, is the driver of a Ford F-250 that flipped on May 2 at the entrance to Hampton Cove subdivision, injuring two of his passengers and killing a third. That same month, the father of one of those injured filed a personal injury lawsuit against Holdsambeck, who is accused of drunk driving, along with anyone who may have provided alcohol to the teen driver.

Toxicology reports for Holdsambeck were released on August 3 by the state forensics lab in Birmingham. According to police, the reports showed that Holdsambeck was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana the night of the car accident. He was also driving on a suspended license.

Holdsambeck was arrested that same day. He faces three counts of third-degree assault and a reckless murder charge for the fatal accident. He was released from jail after paying a $75,000 bond.

17 year-old Thomas Huffman Sanders is the passenger who initiated the lawsuit. Bryan Burkett and Justin Gantt, both 18, were also injured in the car accident. 16 year-old Mohammad Fulladi died from his injuries in June.

The lawsuit claims negligence and wantonness against Holdsambeck, who had been cited previously for violating Alabama's open container law. It also seeks compensation from unknown persons who provided Holdsambeck with alcohol.

Under a legal concept called "dram shop liability," victims of drunk driving accidents can sue alcohol providers if they contributed to the accident. For example, if a bar or restaurant continues to serve an obviously drunk patron who then goes on to injure someone in a drunk-driving accident, that bar or restaurant could be held liable for the accident.

In this case, those who provided alcohol to Holdsambeck were doing so in violation of the law, so they may be held responsible if they can be identified.

So far, the family of Mohammad Fulladi does not appear to have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Holdsambeck or anyone else.

Related Resource:

"Lawsuit filed against 19-year-old driver targets those who supplied alcohol" (The Huntsville Times, August 5, 2010)