P.M. BRIEFING : Cab Firm Liable in Man’s Death
A jury has decided that a cab company and driver should pay $1.36 million to the family of a man who died after being abandoned in snow five years ago.
The state Supreme Court jury’s verdict was returned Tuesday after a two-week trial of a wrongful death lawsuit brought by relatives of George Beatty against FME Auto Leasing and driver Michael Dsingelis.
Beatty, a 72-year-old retired bank executive, died 150 yards from his Huntington house on Feb. 3, 1985. He was being driven home from a saloon but was dropped off when the cabbie was unable to find the house, according to the lawsuit.
Edward Joachim, lawyer for Beatty’s family, said the driver had been directed by the company to get rid of the drunken passenger and go to two other calls.
The medical examiner testified that Beatty had downed about 20 drinks.
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