2 Philly Bars Served In Last Year's Fatal Old City Beating
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Two Philadelphia bars are among those named in a wrongful death lawsuit, brought by the family of a young man who was beaten to death in 2012 (see related story), after they alleged served the assailants alcohol.
When Temple grad Kevin Kless tried and failed to hail a taxi at 4th and Chestnut Streets with his girlfriend and a second female companion, he shouted angrily at the cab.
Trial testimony during the criminal case showed that three men in a vehicle right behind the taxi believed his anger was directed at them, and they got out and beat the 23-year old Kless unconscious. He died hours later.
A lawsuit has now been filed against Lucy's Hat Shop by attorney Michael Barrett, alleging the bar, near 3rd and Market Streets, not only served an "exceedingly inebriated" Kless, but also the trio who didn't see him in the bar, but confronted him on the street afterward.
"As a result, our client was violently killed," Barrett said.
Barrett adds that at the time of the incident, two of the assailants were not yet 21-years-old.
One of them pleaded guilty to third degree murder, and was sentenced to five to ten years in prison. The two others also pleaded guilty, to involuntary manslaughter, and received two to five year prison terms.
G Lounge, near 17th and Sansom Streets, and the three defendants, now in prison, are also named in the wrongful death lawsuit.
