CALIFORNIA’S LEADING
Dram Shop
Expert Witness
DRAM SHOP EXPERT
Okorie Okorocha has two Master’s Degrees in toxicology and pharmacology. Highly knowledgeable in the areas of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Okorie Okorocha has served as a drug and alcohol expert witness in over 280 trials, helping juries understand complex scientific concepts and ensuring that proper procedures are carried out in the case before the court.
What is a dram shop case?
Simply put, a dram shop case is a lawsuit against an establishment that sells alcohol. These cases are based on the fact that someone has been served too much alcohol while at the establishment which resulted in an alcohol-related accident causing damage. There are two types of dram shop cases; a “first party” dram shop case and a “third party” dram shop case, both of which may vary from state to state.
A “first party” dram shop case:
A first party dram shop case is one where the person injured is the individual who was served alcohol by an establishment. For example, if a customer becomes intoxicated while at an establishment and then proceeds to injure themselves, the first party claim allows them to press charges against the establishment who served him or her. This claim, however, is not applicable in most states.
A “third party” dram shop case:
A third party claim, as its name suggests, is one where a third-party is injured by an intoxicated person that was served alcohol by an establishment. In a case such as this, the injured third party can sue the said establishment for damages caused.