Sonoma winery, 7-Eleven store settle lawsuit over teen’s DUI crash that disabled friend

Sonoma winery pays $3M to settle teen DUI case

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A California winery will pay $3 million to settle a lawsuit brought after a teen driver was served beer at a wedding reception there and later crashed his car.

Sean Bradley was convicted of drunken driving and served time for the 2006 crash, which caused brain injury to friend Joshua Apodaca. The victim’s family sued Paradise Ridge Winery and the owners of a 7-Eleven, where the 19-year-olds reportedly later bought beer.

Apodaca also will get $500,000 from 7-Eleven and $105,000 from Bradley. The money covers attorney fees and Apodaca’s care and will buy him a house equipped for the disabled.

Bradley says a bartender at the winery served him six to eight beers after he told them he left his identification in the car.

Information from: The Press Democrat.