Get the weekly rundown Sign up to receive our weekly Legal Insider newsletter Email* Submit

The mother of homicide victim Joey Gingerella has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owner of Ryan's Pub in Groton, where Gingerella was shot and killed on Dec. 11, 2016, after a bartender asked him to check on a woman who was being beaten by her live-in boyfriend in the parking lot.

Tammy de la Cruz is suing pub permittee Raymond L. Ryan III and the pub's limited liability corporation, known as Ryan's Pub LLC, alleging Gingerella's death was caused by their reckless and negligent failure to provide security at the Fort Hill Road establishment.

De la Cruz is bringing the lawsuit both as an individual and as the administrator of her son's estate and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The complaint indicates Gingerella's estate incurred expenses for hospital and medical care and funeral expenses and does not specify an amount of damages except the standard demand for more than $15,000.

The shooter, Dante A. Hughes, was convicted by a jury in New London Superior Court of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced in October to 45 years in prison.

De la Cruz is represented by attorneys John A. Collins III, Roger T. Scully of the Suisman Shapiro law firm, who observed the criminal proceedings as they prepared to file the civil lawsuit in the same courthouse.

Ryan could not be reached by phone at the pub or at his home in Mystic, and it is unclear whether he has retained an attorney.

The complaint, filed Dec. 28, alleges in part that Gingerella's death was caused by Ryan's failure to provide security staff despite knowing of previous violent incidents at the neighborhood bar at 112 Fort Hill Road; failure to train employees on how to manage unruly, violent or disruptive patrons; and its failure to recognize the seriousness of Hughes' behavior and to call 911.

Gingerella, 24 and known as "Jo Jo Nice," was socializing with friends inside the bar when Hughes and his longtime partner, Latoya Knight, came in close to closing time, according to testimony at the trial in July 2018.

Ryan's bartender Rachel Smith testified that she had only worked at Ryan's for six months prior to the shooting and was the sole staff member present that night. She said that when it appeared a woman she knew as "Tootie" — later identified as Knight — had a fight with her boyfriend inside the bar and was in danger of being assaulted in the parking lot, she turned to the "boys" in the game room, including Gingerella, and said, "Can you help me?"

Hughes was punching Knight in the face when Gingerella and patron John Hoyt attempted to separate the couple. Moments later, Hughes, a previously convicted felon who could not legally own a gun, shot Gingerella three times.

The complaint alleges that because of the pub operator's conduct, Gingerella has been "completely and permanently deprived of his ability to carry on and enjoy all of life's activities, and his earning capacity has been completely and permanently destroyed." Additionally, the complaint alleges de la Cruz has incurred loss of "parental consortium," including her son's "services, protection, care and assistance, society, companionship, affection, love, comfort, support, guidance, and other benefits of a parental relationship."

At Hughes' sentencing, de la Cruz said she had not gone a day without crying since her son's death. She said her son was out that night "having a good time reconnecting with old friends, unarmed, happy and little did he know that evil was lurking around the corner and his life would be over in minutes."

Hughes fled the scene and was captured two days later as he attempted to enter Canada via Niagara Falls. Knight, who initially misled police on the identity of the shooter, was charged with interfering with police. Her case is pending, and her next court date is Jan. 7.

k.florin@theday.com