Bars, drunk driver pay $7.36M in wrongful deaths 

The estates of two men who died when a drunk driver broadsided their car at more than 70 mph has settled its wrongful death claims for $7.36 million, the estates’ attorneys report.  

Cousins Timothy Jennings and Christopher Jennings were killed on Feb. 5, 2021, as they backed into a driveway in Spartanburg County, according to one of Timothy Jennings’ attorneys, Kenneth Berger of Columbia. Timothy, 44, was also represented by Brad Lanford of the Law Office of Kenneth Berger and Toyya Brawley Gray of Columbia. Christopher Jennings was represented by Stanley Myers of Moore Bradley Myers in Columbia.  

Berger said defendant William Shetley was out drinking with several YMCA co-workers before the crash. After visiting a bar and having two beers, Shetley went to RJ Rockers and drank more beer, liquor, and whiskey, Berger said, adding that the bartender who served Shetley admitted that she did not know what his blood alcohol content (BAC) would have been while he was at the bar. 

“In fact, she testified that the proof for Jim Beam was roughly equivalent to that of wine, demonstrating a lack of training and understanding,” Berger said. “Her fellow bartender admitted under oath that he did not know whether it was legal to serve an intoxicated patron.”  

Berger added that neither bartender remembered being trained on drink count or basic rules for responsible alcohol service and that video from the bar “showed that these rules were clearly violated.”  

Shetley and his co-workers soon headed next door to the Main Street Pub, where Berger said he most likely drank liquor. There were no receipts or video from the bar, but witness testimony and a retrograde extrapolation based on Shetley’s later BAC indicated that Shetley drank after leaving RJ Rockers.  

“The only bar Will went to after RJ Rockers that night was Main Street Pub, further supporting the fact that he was served alcohol at this third establishment,” Berger said.  

Main Street Pub was represented by Denny Major of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd in Columbia. Major did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.  

After leaving the Main Street Pub, Berger said, Shetley sped his “oversized Dodge Ram truck” down the county’s roadways, driving erratically and tailgating before illegally passing a vehicle and slamming into the Jennings’ car. Berger said that Timothy left behind a wife and five children, while 38-year-old Christopher was married with three children.  

Berger said that insurance carriers for the two establishments and Shetley responsibly paid their policy limits in response to a time-sensitive settlement offer. 

“Though money is a cheap alternative to life, the settlement allowed the families some financial security in the wake of insecurities brought on by the deaths of husbands and fathers,” Berger said.  

Gray, Timothy’s other attorney, said that he always put his family first and that his death left a “huge void” in their lives. And had the defendant bars properly trained their bartenders properly, Gray added, he would still be alive.  

“However, those establishments failed miserably in the responsible service of alcohol that night, and the Jennings family is forced to forever live with the consequences of those failures,” Gray said. “I am grateful we were able to help Tim’s widow and children achieve some measure of justice for the senseless, tragic, and completely avoidable loss of their husband and father.”  

Rogers Harrell of Murphy & Grantland in Columbia represented RJ Rockers and Michael Coulter of Clarkson Walsh Coulter in Greenville represented William Shetley. Neither attorney immediately responded to a message seeking comment.   

Court records show that Shetley was charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death. Those charges are pending.  

SETTLEMENT REPORT — DRAM SHOP/WRONGFUL DEATH 

Amount: $7.36 million 

Injuries alleged: Death of two plaintiffs 

Case name: Jennings v. RJ Rockers et al.  

Court: Spartanburg County Circuit Court 

Case No.: 2021-CP-42-01891 

Judge: Grace Knie 

Date of settlement: June 30 

Most helpful experts: Dr. David Eagerton (forensic toxicologist) 

Insurance carriers: Hanover Insurance for RJ Rockers, Cincinnati Insurance for Main Street Pub, and Progressive Insurance for William Shetley  

Attorneys for plaintiff: Kenneth Berger and Brad Lanford of the Law Office of Kenneth Berger in Columbia and Toyya Brawley Gray of Columbia 

Attorneys for defendant: Rogers Harrell of Murphy & Grantland in Columbia for RJ Rockers, Denny Major of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd in Columbia for Main Street Pub, and Michael Coulter of Clarkson Walsh Coulter in Greenville for William Shetley