Lyft driver shot in altercation settles with pub where assailant was drinking

A Lyft driver shot outside a pub in Liberty settled with the drinking establishment for $750,000, according to his attorneys. 

Reed Martens and Ryan Frazier of Monsees & Mayer said the driver received a ride request in the early morning of Oct. 29, 2017 to pick up patrons at the bar. When he pulled up to the front doors, a man requested a ride, then suddenly spit into the plaintiff’s face. 

When the plaintiff exited his vehicle to confront his assailant, the man retrieved a pistol from his vehicle and fired six shots, three of which struck the driver. One round went through his right jaw, severing his tongue before exiting out the back of his neck. A second round entered near his earlobe and exited out the back of his head. The third round lodged in his upper left chest, resulting in paralysis and permanent nerve damage.

According to Martens, the shooter had been drinking at the defendant pub for approximately five hours prior to the shooting and had a blood alcohol content in the range of 0.19 to 0.21. The attorney said pub employees admitted that they served the patron and admitted that he was observed to be visibly intoxicated while inside the pub and being served. 

Martens said the settlement will help pay for additional facial reconstruction surgeries and counseling and therapy for PTSD. He asked that the parties’ names not be used. 

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