SC Bar recognizes David Lail of Yarborough Applegate Law Firm for raising awareness about drunk driving prevention
August 4, 2022
The SC Bar recognizes David Lail, Partner at Yarborough Applegate Law Firm, for his role in the 2022 Law Enforcement Recognition Dinner and Training Symposium, hosted by MADD South Carolina. Held in North Charleston, the event was organized to express gratitude and appreciation for law enforcement who work tirelessly to keep our roads safe.
As part of the inaugural event, Lail established the first-ever Dram Shop Justice Award to honor an officer who has displayed a commitment to victims of drunk driving through the identification of irresponsible establishments that break the law by over-serving alcohol and putting drunk drivers on our roads and our communities at risk. The inaugural recipient of the Dram Shop Justice Award was Lieutenant Bryan C. Ridgeway of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), who went beyond the call of duty in his investigation of a drunk driving crash that took the life of Lail’s clients’ son.
“Witnessing my clients meet and embrace Lt. Ridgeway, the officer whose work helped change the course of their lives after experiencing such an incredible loss, was one of those unforgettable moments in life,” says Lail. “There are very few times where something truly comes full circle—this was one of them. I was humbled to be a part of it.”
As part of the 2022 MADD Law Enforcement Recognition Dinner and Training Symposium, Lail conducted a training with law enforcement officers entitled, Drunk Drivers and Dram Shop Cases. Lail’s training, a South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy-approved continuing education event, explained the purpose and importance of Dram Shop laws, shared insights on how law enforcement’s investigations can aid in the criminal prosecution of a drunk driver and potentially change the lives of victims and their families at the same time in a civil case. The training also delivered real-world examples of specific steps law enforcement officers can take to uncover critical evidence to help victims in both the criminal and civil justice systems.
Lail devotes much of his practice representing victims in Dram Shop Litigation and has written extensively on this niche practice area. Lail is a principal author of the book, Dram Shop Litigation: A Practice Guide and is a contributing co-author of, South Carolina Damages, Second Edition, Dram Shop Liability, both published by the South Carolina Bar.
