At approximately 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2015, Rockline Kennedy was driving the wrong direction on I-10 near Beaumont, Texas when he collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Kristin Paris, an 18-year-old senior at Nederland High School. Kristin Paris died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the accident.
Kennedy, the owner of Dream Street Gentlemen’s Club, was subsequently charged with intoxication manslaughter after blood tests revealed that his blood alcohol content was beyond the legal limit. Kennedy admitted to police that he had too many drinks to drive.
Kennedy was released from jail after posting a $200,000 bond on February 3, 2015. One of the conditions of Kennedy’s release is that he is required to wear a monitor that tracks his location and his blood alcohol content.
A civil lawsuit for wrongful death against Kennedy is almost certain at this point. If Kennedy consumed alcohol at Dream Street Gentlemen’s Club, civil liability for Paris’ death may extend beyond Kennedy, in his individual capacity. Paris’ friends and family should conduct a thorough investigation into the facts leading up to this senseless accident to ensure that justice is served. Commercial insurance policies could be in place to cover liability such as this if the wrongful conduct and/or negligence of employees of Dream Street Gentlemen’s Club contributed to this accident.
We hope that the victim’s family and friends are able to receive all the support they need at this difficult time.