Dram Shop Liability: Lawsuits Shutter Popular Bar On Hilton Head Island

The owner of a bar in the popular ‘Barmuda Triangle’ on Hilton Head Island says he was forced to shut down because of lawsuits stemming from the devastating Hilton Head bridge crash that killed three people in May.

Brendan Reilley, who owns the Boardroom on Greenwood Drive, said Saturday that he closed the bar because his insurance company dropped him due to the lawsuits brought by crash victims and their families.

He is unable to find new insurance, he said, because of the claims against the Boardroom.

The lawsuits raise questions about whether all the bars in an area like the Triangle are responsible after an intoxicated patron drives away and kills someone.

The Triangle is arguably the most active nightlife on the sleepy resort island for tourists and retirees, and few options exist for public transit or ride-sharing to safely leave late at night.