Brazos County Jury Awards $27M in Negligent Security
Two teenagers died in separate incidents. One died after being assaulted in a restaurant parking lot. The other died in a car crash while trying to take the first victim to the hospital. The families sued the restaurant, alleging negligent security. The case was settled after a jury verdict.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $27,000,000
- County
- Brazos County, TX
- Resolved
- 2017
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Negligent Security, Security negligence, Negligent security, Negligent parking
Case Overview
In the early morning of February 18, 2012, an 18-year-old male was assaulted by a group of attackers in the parking lot of a restaurant in College Station, Texas. His 19-year-old girlfriend, with the assistance of friends, transported him in an SUV to a nearby hospital. En route, the driver of the SUV ran a red light, colliding with a pickup truck. The collision resulted in the death of the female decedent. The estate of the male decedent later asserted he died in the parking lot during the initial assault.
The families of both decedents subsequently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against The McDonald's Corporation in Brazos County District Court. The plaintiffs alleged the company was liable due to negligent security at the restaurant. They asserted the defendant failed to provide adequate protection for customers, citing a lack of security personnel and cameras despite a history of incidents.
The defendant denied liability for the deaths, maintaining that the male decedent died in the car wreck that followed the assault, not in the parking lot, and asserted it was not responsible for the teens' safety. During the six-day trial, College Station police officers testified about regular calls to the location for fights and to disperse large, unsupervised crowds on weekend mornings. Two former managers working that night testified they were unaware of any problems.
The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding $27,000,000 in actual damages. The case, originally filed in the 361st District Court of Brazos County, later saw its appeal resolved through a settlement.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome significantly deviates from similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Deserve a fair outcome for your case?
Share your situation and we'll connect you with experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys who have handled cases like this in Brazos County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver was stopped at a red light when their car was hit by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed injuries to their back, neck, and shoulder. The passenger in the car also claimed an injury. The case involved an insurance claim after the at-fault driver was uninsured.
One driver was stopped to make a left turn when the other driver, who admitted to being distracted, rear-ended them at high speed. The injured driver was taken to the emergency room with neck pain and a head laceration. Later, they underwent a cervical fusion surgery and experienced symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury and seizure-like symptoms. Medical bills exceeded $400,000.
One driver was traveling on Interstate 10 when his pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. That second pickup truck had been propelled forward after being struck by a tractor-trailer. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed injuries to his back and neck. The case involved multiple defendants and allegations of negligence in vehicle operation and employer liability.
One driver alleged another driver was negligent in striking their vehicle. A second driver then struck the first driver's vehicle, causing it to hit the plaintiff's vehicle a second time. The plaintiff suffered injuries to their neck, back, and shoulder. The parties resolved the claim for $60,750.
One driver was stopped at a stop sign when their pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. The driver and a passenger in the first truck claimed injuries. The passenger's claim was settled before trial. The driver's claim proceeded to trial, where the jury found the second driver liable for the accident.