SGI settles with Saskatoon bars that served drunk driver

SGI has settled lawsuits against two Saskatoon bars that served Catherine McKay the night she drove drunk and killed a family of four.

Jordan and Chandra Van de Vorst were with their two young children on Jan. 3, 2016 when McKay’s Jeep hit their minivan at the intersection of Wanuskewin Road and Highway 11.

In a news release Wednesday, the provincial insurer stated it has reached out-of-court settlements with the Industrial Kitchen and Lounge Corporation, and MCDE Holdings Ltd., which operated the Crackers Licensed Cocktail & Dining Room.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but the Crown corporation sought a total of $95,000 in its original statement of claim.

McKay pleaded guilty in June 2016 to four counts of drunk driving causing death and was sentenced to 10 years prison.

During her criminal case, court heard McKay’s blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.

Court also learned McKay had been at both bars, where staff had observed her to be “highly intoxicated.”

SGI sued the bars in July 2017 on the grounds McKay was overserved. The company’s statement of claim noted neither bar’s staff put McKay in the care of a sober person, nor did they call police when she drove away drunk.

SGI said it intends to consider legal action in similar cases.

At the same time, SGI also filed a statement of claim against McKay, who is currently being held at a healing lodge.

McKay reportedly filed no statement of defence against that lawsuit, leading court to issue a judgment against her.

The judgment allows SGI to take action to collect money paid out on the claim resulting from the crash