Continued: Family sues St. Cloud bars for overserving son

The Radel family of Owatonna is suing three St. Cloud bars for allegedly over-serving alcohol to their son, Scot, the night he apparently wandered into the frigid waters of the Mississippi River two years ago and drowned.

It's the second lawsuit of its kind this year involving families upset over alcohol-fueled celebrations that ended in the deaths of the 21-year-olds celebrating their birthdays.

In February, Amanda Jax's family sued the Mankato establishment where she celebrated her birthday Oct. 29. They also sued some of her friends, who allegedly bought her one drink after another and failed to call for help when she vomited twice and lost consciousness.

Jax was found dead the next day and had a blood-alcohol content of about 0.46 percent -- nearly six times the legal limit for driving.

"I want to put these bars on notice so that they're responsible and not acting like predators on these college kids," said Scot Radel's father, Allan Radel, adding that his lawsuit was not prompted by the Jax litigation.

Radel, a St. Cloud State University student, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.215 percent, more than twice the legal limit for driving. He disappeared Feb. 2, 2006, after a night of bar-hopping with friends for his belated 21st birthday celebration. He was found March 1 a few dozen yards downstream from where he apparently entered the river.

"I just feel that in my son's case, there's no question that he was way overserved," said Allan Radel. "I'm very upset with the bars that they didn't quit serving him."

Radel, his wife and their four other children are listed as plaintiffs in the suit filed in Stearns County District Court against the owners of Rum Runners Spirits and Brew Club, D.B. Searle's and McRudy's Pub, all in St. Cloud. The suit alleges that the bars overserved their son, leading directly to his death.

Each bar has denied the allegation that it illegally sold alcohol to Scot Radel. They also stated that they have not been provided proof of the Radels' allegations. None has acknowledged nor denied that Scot Radel was in their establishment Feb. 2.

Allan Radel said that dated photos provided by his son's friends show that Scot was at Rum Runners from about 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at D.B. Searle's from about 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and at McRudy's Pub from about 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. He was returning to D.B. Searle's to meet up with some friends when he apparently wandered into the river, said Allan Radel.

In its answer to the suit, HenryRoss Corp., which owns Rum Runners, alleges that Scot Radel's conduct and that of "others" led to his death. The company's attorney declined to comment.

"My client and I are deeply saddened by the death of this young man, and our sincerest regrets are extended to the family," said Mark Solheim, attorney for MCS Food Ventures Inc., which owns McRudy's Pub. "We don't believe we did anything that was violative of Minnesota law."

An attorney for Straight Up Unlimited Inc., which owns D.B. Searle's, could not be reached for comment.

"With a young, inexperienced person that just turned 21, I think there's more responsibility on the bartenders and the help," said Allan Radel. "It's too easy for [young drinkers] to not be in control."

Radel said he does not hold his son's friends responsible for what happened to Scot.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391

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