Five people, including two former MSU students, could be held liable for providing alcohol to a minor who was convicted of stealing an MSU service vehicle, operating it under the influence and killing an Okemos man in a March 18, 2005, crash.
Minzy Winters and Ashley Meeker, both MSU freshmen at the time, are being sued for furnishing alcohol to then 19-year-old Alexander Hamil, a complaint from Ingham County Circuit Court stated. Hamil, a Marshall, Mich., resident who had no university affiliation, came to MSU on March 17, 2005, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by drinking alcohol with friends in Akers Hall, the complaint stated.
He was sentenced in July 2006 to 18-20 years in prison for killing John A. Hawkins, 46.
Winters, Meeker and three others could be sued for $25,000 each in connection with the alcohol provision. They are scheduled for trial July 26, 2010, in Ingham County’s Circuit Court.
“You’re not legally able to provide a person under the age of 21 with alcohol,” said Larry Nolan, an attorney for the Hawkins’ estate. “If it is shown that providing of alcohol caused the person to be intoxicated and caused that accident, then you can be held liable.”
Attorneys for the Hawkins’ estate argue providing alcohol to Hamil was negligent and caused Hawkins’ death.
David M. Dark, attorney for all five of the defendants, declined to comment. None of the five could be reached for comment, with the exception of Winters, who said Dark advised her not to speak about the case.
Hamil and friend David Scott gave money to Branch County residents Wendei Sue Hadley and Lauren Rocco for the purchase of a fifth of Popov vodka, the complaint said.
Hadley and Rocco purchased the alcohol and delivered it to Scott, who picked Hamil up and drove to MSU on March 17, 2005.
Hadley, Rocco and Scott face trial along with Meeker and Winters. Attorneys for the Hawkins’ estate argue Hadley, Rocco and Scott conspired to provide alcohol for minors.
Hamil left the dormitory unaccompanied after drinking the alcohol with friends and discovered a university pickup truck unattended, unlocked and running outside the Physical Plant at about 5:15 a.m.
He drove the vehicle along Grand River Avenue and crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic, striking Hawkins, who was on his way to work.
Hawkins’ family could not be reached for comment.
Hamil, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder and is in prison with April 2013 set as his earliest date of release.
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