A lawsuit filed in the Dec. 22, 2009, traffic death of Unum employee Susan Wood says Chattanooga Billiard Club management encouraged its employees to drink on the job.
The Circuit Court complaint says CBC employee Jeremy Lane was drunk when his Nissan 240 SX struck and killed Mrs. Wood.
The suit was filed by Matt Wood, husband of Mrs. Wood, against the CBC, Lane and Lane's father, Unum attorney Gary K. Bond.
It asks for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Lane remains in jail awaiting trial on charges of vehicular homicide, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.
The suit says on Dec. 22 Lane drove the Nissan to work at the CBC on Cherry Street and he remained there until the early morning hours of Dec. 23.
It says at approximately 3 a.m. "if not before," Lane "along with his co-employees, with the full knowledge of his supervisor at the Billiard Club, began to drink alcoholic beverages, including beer."
The suit says, "The alcoholic beverages consumed were available and provided by the Billiard Club to its employees, including Lane. The Billiard Club made the alcoholic beverages available to its employees free of charge on its premises.
"The drinking of alcohol provided by the Billiard Club on Dec. 23, 2009 by employees at the Billiard Club was known to management at the Billiard Club.
"The drinking of the alcohol by Billiard Club employees provided by the Billiard Club on occasions prior to Dec. 23, 2009, at the Billiard Club premises was known to the management of the Billiard Club.
"The drinking of alcohol provided by the Billiard Club to employees at the Billiard Club premises was condoned and even encouraged by management at the Billiard Club.
"Management of the Billiard Club encouraged this behavior by drinking on the Billiard Club premises by its employees in the furtherance of its business and to its economic advantage to retain employees who accepted this 'benefit' of free alcohol supplied by their employer."
The suit says on Dec. 23 that Lane became intoxicated by drinking with his fellow employees. It says it was not safe for Lane to drive home.
However, the suit says he drove down Cherry Street and turned onto Fourth, then struck Mrs. Wood as she tried to cross Fourth near Walnut about 7 a.m.
She died around noon that day after being rushed to the hospital.
It says Mrs. Wood "was legally and properly walking in the crosswalk with the right of way" when she was struck. It says she "did not cause or contribute to her death in any way."
The complaint says Lane fled the scene and first reported the case as a carjacking.
It says the Nissan was provided to him by Gary Bond.