Aramark settles Verni injury suit

Nation's Restaurant News,  August 27, 2007  

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PHILADELPHIA -- Contract foodservice giant Aramark Corp., based here, earlier this summer quietly settled its multimillion-dollar lawsuit with the family of 9-year-old Antonia Verni, who was paralyzed in a car crash with a drunken driver who was allegedly served at least six beers at a New York Giants football game several years ago.

The amount of the award was undisclosed.

Aramark reported in a 10-K filed in late July that the settlement "would not have a material impact on the company's results of operations or financial position."

David J. Mazie, attorney for the Verni family, said terms of the settlement, which was filed in New Jersey Superior Court, were sealed. He said the sealing of the documents was "not usual, but done to protect [the child's] privacy"

In an official statement, Aramark said: "We have settled the litigation without any admission of wrongdoing and are satisfied that a fair settlement has been reached under all of the circumstances of this case. Our thoughts continue to be with Antonia Verni and her family and it is our hope that this resolution will bring a measure of comfort to them."

Antonia Verni was 2 years old in 1999 when a reportedly intoxicated sports fan, Daniel Lanzaro, slammed his truck into her family's minivan. The child sustained injuries leaving her permanently paralyzed.

The Vernis originally sued Lanzaro, the National Football League and the two strip clubs Lanzaro had gone to following the football game. Those parties settled the suit for approximately $1 million.

The family also sued Aramark, whose subsidiary, Harry M. Stevens Inc., was the beer vendor at the stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. In 2005 the Vernis were awarded $105 million in a verdict that was later overturned by an appeals court.

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