Parents win $1.5m in fight against liquor store

A US couple has been awarded US$1.5 million – the largest settlement ever made public in the state of Oklahoma – after a liquor store sold vodka to their underage son who was later involved in a fatal car crash.

Colton Kerns

Colton Kerns, 17, had been decorating for his school prom in on 20 April, 2012, when he was able to purchase alcohol from a store clerk working at the Woodshed Liquor Store in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, as reported by miamiok.com.

On returning to school the intoxicated boy was sent home and expelled, but later turned around and drove back to school, according to court documents.

He later he sent text messages to students of himself wearing a prom suit with the message that “this was the last time that they were going to hear from him because he was going to outrun the police”. Soon after he crashed his vehicle and was killed. An autopsy report showed Colton Kern’s blood-alcohol level registered 0.13 – the legal limit in Oklahoma is 0.08.

Surveillance footage showed Kerns being sold vodka on several occasions without being asking for ID by a clerk at the liquor store. After a long court battle, his parents were this week awarded $1.5m in damages, and insisted the amount was made public.

“We wanted the amount of the settlement public and we wanted all of the employees at Woodshed Liquor Store undergo training on selling alcohol to minors,” said Donna Kerns. “We want to prevent alcohol sales to minors.”

She added: “It was never about money. It’s been a big long fight.”

The Kerns were told their settlement against Woodshed Liquor Store was the largest settlement ever made public in the state’s history.