Author: JON FRANK THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Three lawsuits have been filed in Virginia Beach Circuit Court against a motorist who is accused of being drunk when he ran a red light and killed a 26-year-old father of two in November.
Steven C. Arcese, 50, had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood on Nov. 3, according to recent court testimony in the criminal case against Arcese. His Audi station wagon crashed head-on into a 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by David C. Fisher.
Fisher died early the following morning from his injuries. His children, ages 3 and 6 months, suffered superficial injuries and have recovered.
Fisher was on the way to pick up his wife from her job at Wal-Mart in the couple’s only car when the accident occurred about 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of London Bridge and Dam Neck roads.
Arcese had a blood-alcohol level of 0.23 hours after the accident, police said. The legal limit in Virginia is 0.08.
The lawsuits were filed on behalf of Fisher’s wife, Mandi Rose Fisher, and the children.
One of the lawsuits was filed in February. The other two were filed Monday.
The lawsuits allege that Arcese was drunk and speeding, failed to keep a proper outlook, failed to keep his vehicle under proper control and did not obey traffic signals.
Each of the lawsuits asks for compensatory damages of $5 million and punitive damages of $5 million.
Michael L. Goodove, the attorney who filed the suits, said the children were traumatized by the accident.
Arcese is being held without bond in the Virginia Beach city jail. He is scheduled to stand trial April 23 on charges of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence and refusal to take a blood-alcohol test.
The maximum penalty for aggravated involuntary manslaughter is 20 years.
Reach Jon Frank at 446-2277 or jfrank(AT)pilotonline.com
Caption:
Lawsuits filed by the family of David C. Fisher, who
died after a car ran into his, seek a total of $30 million in
punitive and compensatory damages.
Copyright (c) 2003 The Virginian-Pilot
Record Number: 0304130093