The wife of a drunken driver has been slapped with a $25 million judgment by 225th District Court Judge Peter Sakai in a lawsuit filed by the widow of the victim.
"We hope it does set a precedent and we hope people take notice," said Fidel Rodriguez Jr., the attorney representing the victim's family.
Richard Casas, a father of two, was killed after his vehicle was broadsided in 2011 the day before Labor Day. The driver, Arturo Noriega, now serving a life sentence as a result.
In 2013, Noriega was among the first in Bexar County to be found guilty of intoxication murder, based on his three prior drunken driving arrests.
He admitted to being intoxicated and on cocaine when he ran a stop light at Highway 181 and South Presa.
Rodriguez said last week's ruling against Noriega and his wife, Pearl, was based on "negligent entrustment" of the family vehicle.
Despite being aware of Noriega's record, Rodriguez said Pearl Noriega still bought her husband the truck involved in the crash, and allowed him to drive without insurance.
"She's just as responsible for what this man did," said Florence Casas, the victim's widow. "Actually, she didn't do it but she allowed that to happen."
Casas said she wanted to make other wives of alcoholics to be aware, the same could happen to them if their husbands don't seek the help they need.
She also said she wanted the lawsuit to make a statement, knowing she probably would never see a penny of the $25 million judgment.
"What matters is that this tragic type of circumstance not happen again," said her attorney
Casas said her husband was a devoted family man who worked two jobs to send his son and daughter to Catholic schools.
She said the day of the crash he was on the way to the grocery store in preparation for a neighbor's 60th wedding anniversary celebration.
Casas also said when her husband was a child, his father was killed by a drunken driver.
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