On December 13, 2018, a Texas state court jury handed Josh Brent, a former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle, a $25 million wrongful death verdict. Brent, his now-defunct nightclub – Beamers Private Club, and its employees, were accused of negligence after the clubs employees allowed Brent drink excessively while at Beamers Private Club. After it was apparent that Brent was intoxicated, and presented a clear danger to himself and others, Brent and a former teammate, Jerry Brown, began driving through a Dallas suburb at excessive speeds. Brent was driving 110 mph, in a 45-mph zone, when his vehicle overturned, killing Brown. At the time, Brent had a blood-alcohol level of .18 percent, more than twice the legal limit.
Brown’s mother, Stacey Jackson, and his estate sued Brent and Beamers Private Club for the wrongful death of Brown. The Texas state court jury found Brent and Beamers Private Club were each 48 percent liable, with Brown 4 percent liable.