New Mexico Applebee’s Sued Over Drunk Pedestrian’s Death

A Taos, N.M. restaurant is facing a lawsuit over allegations that it overserved a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a pickup.

The Albuquerque Journal reported Julian Varela had a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit for driving when he left the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar on Dec. 29, 2011.

He was killed by a teen driver who wasn’t cited in the incident.

The lawsuit says the restaurant’s employees shouldn’t have served Varela the 20-ounce “Brewtus” beers and should have stopped him from leaving while intoxicated.

It says Applebee’s corporate leadership encouraged its restaurants to drive up liquor sales.

An Applebee’s spokesman told the newspaper that the chain doesn’t comment on pending litigation.