Tuscaloosa Bar Sued For Wrongful Death Of UA Student

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The family of a University of Alabama student who died in an accidental drowning in the Black Warrior River a year ago has sued a bar in downtown Tuscaloosa, alleging the establishment violated multiple laws leading to his death.

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As Patch previously reported, the body of Garrett Walker was recovered the afternoon of Nov. 9, 2021 following two days of searching after he went missing during the early morning hours.

Walker was last seen alive on Greensboro Avenue at The Gray Lady at 1:15 a.m. the night he went missing, with evidence prompting Walker's parents to file the civil suit in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court on the one-year anniversary of their son's death.

According to the lawsuit, surveillance video purportedly shows Walker heading north toward the Black Warrior River, at approximately 1:07 a.m. The lawsuit then alleges that sometime later, four active-duty United States Army personnel in Tuscaloosa for the football game between the University of Alabama and LSU, reported hearing someone splashing and calling out from the Black Warrior River.

A pair of boots were recovered from the water, but Walker was nowhere to be seen. This prompted a large-scale search effort involving numerous local and state agencies and a dive team, with Walker's body found two days after he went missing.

Walker's parents claim that the owners of the bar possess additional evidence and information concerning their son and the circumstances that led to his death. What's more, the legal counsel for the Walker family argues that despite providing notice of the potential lawsuit, the owners of the bar have refused to provide information to the family or to respond to the family in any manner.

The lawsuit lays out several pointed claims against the Gray Lady, insisting that employees or agents served underage customers, including Walker, as well as over-serving intoxicated individuals.

Employees of the bar are also accused of drinking with patrons that night, including Walker.

While the autopsy results mentioned in the lawsuit point to Garrett dying from an accidental drowning, the toxicology results showed his blood alcohol content to be 0.212.

Walker's parents are seeking a judgement for compensatory damages and punitive damages, in amounts sufficient to punish the defendants, while also protecting the public and preventing similar instances in the future.

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