Family of man in vegetative state sues restaurant accused of serving underage driver before DUI crash

The family of a Stamford man, in a vegetative state from an alleged DUI crash, is suing the restaurant accused of serving the underage driver.

News 12 Staff

Sep 2, 2020, 6:43 PM

Updated 1,343 days ago

Share:

The family of a Stamford man, in a vegetative state from an alleged DUI crash, is suing the restaurant accused of serving the underage driver.
Miguel Machado, 22, is supposed to be starting his senior year at UConn. Instead, he remains in Stamford Hospital.
"You can imagine how it is to go every day to the hospital to see my son like that. You can imagine how it is. It's terrible," says Claudia Machado, Miguel Machado's mother.
On June 20, Miguel Machado was in his friend's car when that friend lost control and slammed into a pole on Cove Road.
Miguel Machado suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Police recently arrested the driver, 20-year-old Saba Surguladze. He is charged with assault, drunk driving and reckless driving.
The Machado family is suing Surguladze, his father, his father's business as well as T's Pizza Kitchen. That's where the young men went for an "all you can drink champagne brunch" before the crash.
"There was a lot of drinking going on. And the driver of the car where Miguel ended up was under the age of 21, should not have been drinking at all," says Matthew Maddox, the Machado family attorney.
Maddox says the restaurant never checked Surguladze's ID and continued to serve him even though he was clearly intoxicated.
The lawsuit is seeking $20 million total.
"He's going to need 24-hour care," says Maddox. "We don't know for how many years, so $20 million seems like a lot of money? Not compared to the cost of health care. His health care expenses are already over $500,000."
Finding a rehabilitation facility is also an issue. Miguel Machado is breathing on his own, but has no brain activity, so several places have declined to take him.
His family isn't giving up.
"I have the faith he's going to recover but we don't know when or how," says Claudia Machado.
The attorney for T's Pizza Kitchen did not respond to a request for comment.
The other defendants do not have attorneys listed in the case yet.
A fundraising campaign has also been created to help the Machado family.


More from News 12
1:54
STORM WATCH: Risk of coastal flooding; rain and thunderstorms hit Wednesday morning

STORM WATCH: Risk of coastal flooding; rain and thunderstorms hit Wednesday morning

2:23
Stew Leonard’s considers 2nd attempt at bringing store to Orange

Stew Leonard’s considers 2nd attempt at bringing store to Orange

1:15
Residents at Bridgeport's Greene Homes community to be part of planning process for new complex

Residents at Bridgeport's Greene Homes community to be part of planning process for new complex

2:21
Stamford man recovers from rare Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Stamford man recovers from rare Rocky Mountain spotted fever

2:43
EXCLUSIVE: Bridgeport truck driver whose flatbed was struck in fiery I-95 crash says he’s grateful to be alive

EXCLUSIVE: Bridgeport truck driver whose flatbed was struck in fiery I-95 crash says he’s grateful to be alive

0:53
Bridgeport plans to restore the Perry Memorial Arch

Bridgeport plans to restore the Perry Memorial Arch

0:30
Little Feat to headline Milford’s 50th Oyster Festival

Little Feat to headline Milford’s 50th Oyster Festival

0:41
US provides $3 million relief funding toward reconstructing Fairfield Avenue Bridge in Norwalk

US provides $3 million relief funding toward reconstructing Fairfield Avenue Bridge in Norwalk

0:42
AT&T lauds nearly $500M investment in network infrastructure across Connecticut

AT&T lauds nearly $500M investment in network infrastructure across Connecticut

0:32
'Be careful when you're on your cellphone'. Bridgeport officials relay safety message following pedestrian accidents

'Be careful when you're on your cellphone'. Bridgeport officials relay safety message following pedestrian accidents

0:30
CT lawmakers vote to extend sick days to nearly all workers; bill heads to governor's desk

CT lawmakers vote to extend sick days to nearly all workers; bill heads to governor's desk

1:43
Made in Connecticut: Fresh squeezed juice from Ripe Juice Bar

Made in Connecticut: Fresh squeezed juice from Ripe Juice Bar

Discounts and perks teachers can use all year

Discounts and perks teachers can use all year

Guide: Deals and freebies for health care workers

Guide: Deals and freebies for health care workers

1:43
Saravanaa Bhavan a restaurant serving Indian vegetarian cuisine opens in Stamford

Saravanaa Bhavan a restaurant serving Indian vegetarian cuisine opens in Stamford

Former Bridgeport official pleads guilty to charges related to primaries and election in 2017, 2018

Former Bridgeport official pleads guilty to charges related to primaries and election in 2017, 2018

2:11
Security camera footage shows onset of deadly Stamford house fire

Security camera footage shows onset of deadly Stamford house fire

1:48
'This was a remarkable recovery': I-95 officially operating at full capacity

'This was a remarkable recovery': I-95 officially operating at full capacity

0:36
Sen. Bob Duff recognizes employees who worked on reopening I-95 in Norwalk

Sen. Bob Duff recognizes employees who worked on reopening I-95 in Norwalk

0:20
Bridgeport PD: Pedestrian struck by car on Seaview Avenue

Bridgeport PD: Pedestrian struck by car on Seaview Avenue