George Thomas Fadgen III
— Attorneys for the family of George Thomas Fadgen III filed the wrongful death complaint against Club Risque claiming the club continued to serve Fadgen drinks after he became visibly intoxicated.
The family of a Northeast man who crashed his car and died last September after drinking at a Tacony gentlemen’s club has sued the business for allegedly serving the man too much alcohol.
Attorneys for the family of George Thomas Fadgen III filed the wrongful death complaint against Club Risque in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court on March 4.
The lawsuit claims that the club, at 5921 Tacony St., continued to serve Fadgen drinks for about four hours last Sept. 7 and 8, even after he became visibly intoxicated. Minutes after leaving the club, Fadgen crashed and flipped his car on northbound Interstate 95 between the Bridge Street and Cottman Avenue exits. Fadgen, 46, of the 11800 block of Basile Road, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene from multiple injuries.
No other vehicles were involved. Fadgen’s blood-alcohol content soon after his death was measured at 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit for driving, according to the lawsuit.
The court filing states that Fadgen arrived at the club at about 10:15 p.m. and left at about 2 a.m. In that time, he withdrew $100 on three occasions from an automated teller machine inside the business, at 10:15 p.m., 1 a.m. and 1:55 a.m.
During those hours, the lawsuit claims, the club employed “shot girls” to walk around the club and sell alcohol to patrons, in addition to drinks served by bartenders. “Shot girls” were compensated for each shot they sold.
“Club employees get commissions on every shot poured so there is financial incentive to overlook, as in the case of Mr. Fadgen, a customer who is visibly intoxicated and should be shut off,” said Michael F. Barrett, an attorney with Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky. “With every shot, practically up until the club closed, Mr. Fadgen was one ounce closer to his untimely and preventable death.”
A manager for Club Risque told the Northeast Times that the business had no comment regarding the lawsuit.
Barrett’s firm and co-counsel Bernard M. Gross, P.C., represent Fadgen’s father, George Fadgen Jr., who is the administrator of his son’s estate.
According to a death notice released last September by John F. Givnish Funeral Home, Fadgen III was survived by his parents, a sister and extended family. He graduated from St. Martha School in 1980, Archbishop Ryan in 1984 and Bucks County Community College in 2000. He worked as a computer technician.
The lawsuit claims that Club Risque failed to train and supervise its employees properly in accordance with Pennsylvania’s liquor laws and seeks damages in excess of $50,000. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215–354–3031 or wkenny@bsmphilly.com
