HUBBARD VFW post to reopen after suit tied to death of 14-year-old girl

The Hubbard VFW's popular fish fries will resume Feb. 6.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3767 will reopen in stages, beginning with the canteen's opening Friday.
The post closed Dec. 22, 2003, when its liquor liability premium increased from $1,669 to $12,000 annually.
The drastic increase came after the father of a 14-year-old girl who was killed in a hit-and-run accident filed an $8.5 million lawsuit.
Defendants are the driver charged in the girl's death and the post, where the father believes the driver was drinking alcohol before the crash.
Stan Baranski, post quartermaster, said today that the bar will reopen at 11 a.m. Friday, despite the lack of liquor liability coverage for now.
Pursuing coverage
Baranski said post officers decided Wednesday night to pursue liquor liability coverage. It should take a few days to a few weeks to get coverage, he added.
Refusing to serve members who are intoxicated will be "strictly enforced," Baranski explained, noting that bartenders will be fired if they serve a drunken member.
Also, the post plans to create a limited menu so members can eat while drinking.
Friday fish fries run by the post auxiliary will resume Feb. 6. The auxiliary does have liability coverage, and the fries are open to the public.
Baranski said the Tuesday luncheons that are also open to the public will resume either Tuesday or Feb. 10.
Baranski said Saturday night dances will start up again, but it's unclear when that will be.
Bonnie Harrison, auxiliary treasurer, said she wasn't about to let the post remain closed and lauded its contributions to the community.
Harrison called attention to 18 programs that Post 3767 is involved with, including the Voice of America, Patriotic Art Contest, Buckeye Girls' State, purchasing flags for city streets, and donating lap robes, dental products, socks, underwear and toiletries for patients at veterans hospitals.
She also called attention to contributions to needy families, disabled veterans, military families and veterans' children.
"We try to make a difference in our town and community," Harrison said.
Lawsuit
The liquor liability insurance increased because of the April 4, 2003, death of Kyrsten Studer and the subsequent lawsuit. Bryan Studer, Kyrsten's father, filed the lawsuit in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in December. Post 3767; the national VFW in Jefferson City, Mo.; and William Demidovich, of Stoneybrook Drive, Hubbard Township, have been named as defendants.
The suit states that Demidovich, a post social member and patron, consumed excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, left the tavern and drove his car while under the influence. His car struck Kyrsten, killing her. Demidovich, 69, has pleaded innocent to charges of aggravated vehicular homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, aggravated vehicular assault and felony hit and run. The case is pending.
The lawsuit charges that the VFW had a statutorily imposed duty not to sell or furnish beer or intoxicating liquor to an intoxicated person.
yovich@vindy.com