An Arizona high school graduate had part of his ear torn off and suffered a concussion when he jumped off his classmate’s roof during an alcohol-fueled senior skip day party.
Blake Barnes, who attended Phoenix’s Desert Vista High School, filed a lawsuit against Brandon and Megan Spencer, who he claims knew about the party that their son was hosting at their home in the Ahwatukee neighborhood, according to AZFamily.
Barnes said that between 100 and 150 people had attended the out-of-control party that allegedly included underage drinking in the home’s backyard while several teens were standing on the roof on April 13.
The 18-year-old senior had climbed the roof and attempted a front flip into the pool.
Barnes’ feet landed in the water, but he smacked his head on the hard pool deck, which knocked him unconscious and left him with bodily injuries, according to cellphone footage of the jump obtained by the outlet.
“My guy actually hit his head on the pool deck and sustained a concussion, tore his ear off. Fire and EMT personnel responded. He was unconscious, floating lifeless in the pool,” Barnes’ lawyer, Brian Foster, told the outlet.
Barnes was rushed to the hospital, where his blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.114.
Foster and his teen client accuse the Spencers of knowingly allowing the large gathering that featured alcohol, with the party’s poster advertising that the high schoolers bring their own drinks.
“100 or 150 people who attended this raging senior ditch-day party,” Foster told the outlet. “And in the written notification, he told everybody to bring your own alcohol.”
Despite Barnes having a BAC as an 18-year-old, Foster blamed the Spencers for allowing the large party to be held.
“Look, it’s certainly not a great fact that my client consumed alcohol and had a blood alcohol content. But the fact of the matter is the alcohol was provided at the host party at the home where he attended, and the owners of the home knew or should have known that their son was having this rager,” Foster said.
Barnes filed the suit against the Spencers on May 22, according to court records viewed by The Post.
Barnes is seeking current and future medical expenses related to the incident in addition to damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress and more, according to AZFamily.
The Spencer’s claim Barnes’ suit left out a lot of information, but wouldn’t provide additional details, the outlet reported.
