Family Sues North Carolina Tavern Over Man’s Death

The Ohio family of a man who died after he was struck by a car outside a Charlotte, N.C., tavern has sued the business and a man accused of shoving the victim into the street.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Robert and Lori Kingston of Columbus, Ohio, are suing Ed’s Tavern and Kenan Gay, who faces trial on second-degree murder charges next month.

Bobby Kingston died when he was struck by a car March 3, 2012.

His family says the tavern’s bouncer failed to stop a confrontation between Gay and Kingston. It accuses Gay of dragging Kingston from the bar and shoving him into the street in front of a car.

Gay’s attorneys say the allegations are untrue. They say Gay acted only after Kingston repeatedly harassed Gay’s girlfriend.