The wife of an Endicott College police officer killed in a wrong‑way crash early Thanksgiving morning 2024 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the House of Blues Boston, alleging the venue overserved the man charged in her husband’s death.
Laura Cole, as representative of the estate of her husband, Jeremy Cole, filed the civil suit in Suffolk Superior Court on May 18. The complaint alleges the House of Blues continued serving alcohol to Keoma Duarte during a Djodje concert even though he was “visibly intoxicated.” Live Nation, which promoted and sold tickets for the event, is also named as a defendant.
“Duarte left the House of Blues in an intoxicated condition and therefore negligently operated his motor vehicle, causing a fatal wrong-way crash on I-95, which resulted in the wrongful death of Jeremy Cole,” states the lawsuit filed by attorneys Benjamin H. Duggan, Kathy Jo Cook and Julie N. DeNardo of Sheff & Cook.
Duarte, 41, of New Bedford, currently faces vehicular homicide and manslaughter while operating under the influence charges in Massachusetts, as well as two counts of reckless conduct (deadly weapon) and disobeying a police officer charges in New Hampshire.
Prosecutors say he led police on a chase from Interstate 95 in Hampton to Newbury, Massachusetts, where the fatal crash occurred.
According to police, officers began receiving reports around 11:50 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2024, of a Tesla traveling south in the northbound lanes of I‑95 in Hampton. New Hampshire State Police attempted to stop the vehicle and coordinated with Massachusetts State Police, who tried to deploy a tire‑deflation device in Georgetown. The pursuit ended just after midnight in Newbury, where Duarte allegedly struck Cole’s Chevrolet Trailblazer head‑on, killing him.
Suit outlines claims of overserving before fatal crash
The lawsuit alleges that prior to the fatal crash, Duarte was at the concert where employees “carelessly, negligently and unskillfully permitted, caused and allowed the service of alcoholic beverages to Duarte, after he “was already under the influence of such alcoholic beverages.”
It further argues that staff should have known Duarte had driven to the venue and would be driving home.
“A person of ordinary prudence would not have continued to serve intoxicating liquor to Duarte under the same or similar circumstances,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit states that when Duarte left the venue at 15 Lansdowne Street, he was intoxicated and believed he was driving home to New Bedford, when he entered I‑95 north instead on I-95 south.
According to a police affidavit, surveillance footage showed Duarte’s Tesla entering the closed northbound New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet in Hampton before driving through the lot and exiting back onto the highway in the wrong direction, heading southbound. At the crash site, police found seven empty mini vodka bottles and marijuana in his vehicle. Duarte exhibited slurred speech and bloodshot, glossy eyes, and medical records later showed a blood‑alcohol level of 0.19 — more than twice the legal limit, according to the lawsuit.
As a result of the Live Nation and the House of Blues actions, the suit claims Cole suffered “mortal fear of death, conscious pain and suffering, and ultimately death.”
Lawsuit outlines damages sought in wrongful‑death claim
The lawsuit alleges Live Nation and House of Blues committed gross negligence and negligence that caused a wrongful death under the Massachusetts dram-shop law, which prohibits the serving of intoxicated patrons. The law states if an over-served patron subsequently causes injury, death, or property damage, the business can be held legally and financially liable.
Laura Cole, according to the lawsuit, is seeking damages for pain and suffering, loss of support and guidance, punitive damages, and all other damages allowed under law, including medical, funeral and burial expenses and attorney fees.
House of Blues and Live Nation have not yet responded to the lawsuit. Attempts to reach representatives of House of Blues’ parent company and Live Nation were unsuccessful.
Duarte’s trial date for the Massachusetts criminal charges has yet to be set. He pleaded guilty to the New Hampshire charges on May 12 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 12, 2026.
Cole, a sergeant of the Endicott police for 15 years, grew up on Front Street and graduated from Exeter High School with the Class of 1994, according to friends who knew him. He lived in Exeter with his wife and four children, according to his obituary.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Patrick Cronin.
