Passenger sues Munster man facing multiple drunken driving charges in fatality

CROWN POINT | A passenger in the car driven by 24-year-old Michael Temores, of Munster, the night of a fatal traffic wreck has sued Temores and the downtown Hammond nightclub where Temores had been reported drinking.

Highland attorney David Gladdish said his client, Nickita Karalis, of Schererville, was not aware of the level of Temores' intoxication the night of the Dec. 30 crash that killed 61-year-old Fred Skafgaard, of Lansing.

Gladdish said the high-end AquaVor nightclub, where the men had been drinking, offers bottle service, a practice in which patrons pay a premium to buy liquor by the bottle.

"There's no way of knowing how much they have served an individual," Gladdish said. "Bartenders have an obligation to cut someone off if they have over-served."

Gladdish said Karalis, who was seated behind Temores at the time of the accident, had not been with Temores the entire time the men were in the bar.

The lawsuit states Temores was traveling south on Hohman Avenue when the crash occurred Dec. 30 at or near the intersection of Ridge Road in Munster.

Temores is alleged to have been driving in a reckless and dangerous manner, including going too fast for road conditions, failing to obey a traffic control signal, failing to keep the car from contact with other vehicles and driving while intoxicated.

As a result, Karalis was violently thrown and jostled about, resulting in the need for medical care. Karalis is seeking recovery for lost time and earnings and other relief.

Temores and AquaVor attorney Carla Pyle declined to comment Friday.

Lake County court records show Temores has faced more than 100 traffic-related charges since 2003, including two previous drunken driving charges. One was pleaded down to a misdemeanor and the other was pleaded down to reckless driving.

At the time of the fatal wreck, court records show Temores was on probation after pleading guilty to a charge of operating while intoxicated.

Court records show Temores was quickly released on bond after being charged with 18 new criminal and traffic-related charges in connection with the December crash.

However, within days, prosecutors filed a warrant to revoke his probation. Temores was placed in the custody of the Lake County Sheriff's Work Release program for the allowable 15 days with no bond.

Freed after the 15 days, Temores is scheduled to appear March 7 before Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray for an omnibus hearing and before Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell for a probation revocation hearing.