Officer’s widow sues Bensalem restaurant

The widow of Philadelphia Officer Brian Lorenzo is suing the Bensalem T.G.I. Friday's that served alcohol to the wrong-way driver who struck and killed Lorenzo last month.

Also named as defendants in the suit filed late Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court is the restaurant's parent company, Carlson, and John D. Leck Jr., the driver of the Audi A6 that struck and killed Lorenzo on July 8.

Leck, 47, of Levittown, drank "at least 6 alcoholic beverages," including three 22-ounce Coors Lights, two vodka drinks, and one 14-ounce at the T.G.I. Fridays on Street Road, according to the suit.

"Leck left the TGI Friday's so drunk that he has no recollection of where he went afterwards, until he, with a blood alcohol level of .218, killed Officer Lorenzo," the suit says.

Leck was driving south on northbound Interstate 95 at 3:13 a.m. when his Audi collided with a police motorcycle being ridden by Lorenzo, 48, just south of Cottman Avenue.

Lorenzo, a 23-year veteran of the force who was assigned to the elite Highway Patrol Unit, had just finished a work shift and was riding to his home in the Somerton section of Northeast Philadelphia when he was killed.

At 10 a.m. Friday, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput will preside at an interfaith memorial service for Lorenzo at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Leck was charged with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault while driving under the influence, driving under the influence, and involuntary manslaughter.

The suit says that T.G.I. Fridays violated the law and its state liquor license by serving a visibly intoxicated Leck.

A spokesperson for Carlson could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.

Lorenzo's wife and three children have suffered "the loss of the pecuniary value of the services, society, comfort, companionship, maintenance, guidance, tutelage, support, protection and enjoyment" provided by Lorenzo if were still alive, the suit says.

The suit also identifies Lorenzo's lost monetary support, as well as damages from expenses incurred from lorenzo's funeral and burial, administrative expenses, medical expenses, and pecuniary losses recoverable under the Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Act.

Linda Lorenzo is being represented by James E. Beasley Jr. and Scott Bennett of the Beasley Firm, and by attorney James J. Binns.