The lawsuit blames a round-the-clock liquor promotion at the Travel Center Casino for the crash that severely injured Joe and Peggy Chavez and their 7-year-old niece, Katrina Baca.

According to police reports, on May 24, 2003 at 6:30 a.m., 23-year-old George Starr, an employee at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino and Resort, crossed the median on U.S. 70 and hit the Chevrolet Blazer being driven by Joe Chavez head on. Starr, who had been drinking at the grand opening of the Travel Center Casino, died instantly in the crash. His blood-alcohol level was .24 percent, three times the legal limit for driving.

The casino's grand-opening promotion featured all-night alcohol service, which was an exception to the state's 2 a.m. closing time. The lawsuit claims that the casino was negligent in serving alcohol all night.

"The casino hoped to make more money by keeping patrons drinking and gambling at the casino," the lawsuit states.

Lee Hunt, the lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of the Chavezes, said the casino and the liquor distributors "knew this was going to put drunk folks on the road at a time when it was not expected, and someone was going to get hurt or killed."

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