Accident victim's family sues driver, vehicle's owner, bars

CANTON — The family of a Harrisville man killed in an accident in which a driver allegedly was drunk has filed suit against the driver, the vehicle's owner and two bars.

The lawsuit was brought by Angela Farney, on behalf of Frederick E. Farney, seeking unspecified damages against Antwerp residents Joshua T. Stowell and Kimberly Stowell, and two Gouverneur bar owners, Anthony Pistolesi of the Casablanca Restaurant and Patricia Towne of Nina's Hotel.

Joshua T. Stowell was driving a pickup truck, owned by Kimberly Stowell, on County Route 12 in the town of Gouverneur on Dec. 9, 2007. Mr. Farney, who was walking along County Route 12, was hit by Mr. Stowell.

The lawsuit alleges Mr. Stowell, who drove away from the accident scene, was intoxicated at the time. Mr. Farney's body was discovered by a passerby a few hours later.

The suit also alleges the Casablanca Restaurant and Nina's Hotel were negligent because they served Mr. Stowell alcohol the night of the accident.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in the St. Lawrence County clerk's office by Ernest A. DelDuchetto of the DelDuchetto and Potter law firm in Syracuse.

Mr. Stowell was indicted in May 2008 by a county grand jury on charges of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident.

He pleaded guilty in November in St. Lawrence County Court to second-degree vehicular manslaughter. He was sentenced in January to six months in the St. Lawrence County jail. He also will spend one year on electronic home monitoring with a breath-test device, along with receiving five years' probation.

Mr. Stowell's drivers license also was revoked.