Family Can Sue Chain in Girl’s Death
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The parents of a Cypress girl killed in a drunk-driving crash in 1994 may get their day in court.
In an opinion released Monday, the 4th District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana ruled that Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Warren Siegel wrongly dismissed a civil case filed by the parents against a local restaurant chain.
In their suit, John and Hazel Saliture allege Shakey’s Inc. shares the blame for the death of their daughter, Allison, because employees allegedly served Rene Castorena, then 19 years old, 15 glasses of beer before the Tustin youth took to the road on March 26, 1994.
Castorena had a blood-alcohol content of .19%--more than twice the legal limit--when he slammed into Allison Saliture, 16, later that evening. The teen died several days later. Castorena is serving a 10-year sentence for vehicular manslaughter.
Company officials from Irvine-based Shakey’s could not be reached for comment.
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