$2.3 Million Wrongful Death Judgment Against Drunk Driver

After a hearing on May 1, 2019, an Adams County, Colorado District Court Judge entered a $2,282,005.00 wrongful death judgment against Shaelina Fragale. The court found Ms. Fragale responsible for the death of Marcus Burke, who was driving his employer’s HVAC van southbound on Hwy 85 in Commerce City on the evening of October 6, 2017. Ms. Fragale, under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, was driving northbound on Hwy 85 when she lost control of her vehicle, continued into the median and then became airborne, slamming into the driver’s compartment of the HVAC van, killing Mr. Burke almost instantly. The court found that Ms. Fragale’s conduct constituted a felonious killing and entered the judgment in favor of Mr. Burke’s wife and infant daughter.