WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines woman has filed a lawsuit against a West Des Moines bar after it allegedly allowed her to drink while underage and failed to help when she was attacked on its property back in 2022.
The suit, filed by Saydee Edwards and her parents against Wellman's Pub and Rooftop, claims that then-18-year-old Saydee was allowed into Wellman's Bar and Rooftop while still underage on Dec. 30. 2022, and sustained "massive facial injuries" from an assault inside the bar later that night.
When Edwards, friends and coworkers arrived at Wellman's, a bouncer allegedly asked the mostly-underaged group to form a circle around him, preventing the video surveillance system from filming his ID-checking process.
Court documents say "it became apparent that he was not concerned with the age of any of the potential patrons", as he allowed the entire group to enter, even if ultraviolet light showed the ID used was fake.
Once inside, Edwards claims she drank one beer. She had never been to Wellman's before, but three women were glaring at one of the friends she'd arrived with, making them uncomfortable. She and her friend decided to leave the bar due to the women's actions. The pair asked a bouncer to accompany them out, but the employee refused, the lawsuit claims.
One of the women hit Edwards in the forehead with her fist while they were still inside Wellman's. She was also hit over the face with a beer bottle, which then shattered, causing "massive facial injuries" that required stitches. One of the attackers was also underage.
Despite the attack happening inside the bar, Edwards claims "no one bothered to call the police or an ambulance". The assault left Edwards with permanent scarring to her face.
"She was an innocent bystander and gets hit, got caught up in the middle of a dispute between several women ... and she sustained very serious facial injuries. And so we are simply seeking compensation for her as a result of what happened that night." Edwards' attorney, Marc A. Humphrey, told Local 5.
Underage drinking at Wellman's is a "pattern and practice" for the bar, with an investigating law enforcement officer and Wellman's employees confirming it was an ongoing issue to Edwards and her family, court documents claim.
"The main goal is to raise the consciousness of this pattern of this business practice as we see it, of allowing underage patrons in the facility where they are able to be served alcohol," Humphrey said. "because I think it's the total environment that existed that allows, you know, this type of thing to happen."
The lawsuit is seeking financial damages under claims of Dramshop — in which a business is held liable for over-serving customers, in this case, the group that allegedly assaulted Edwards and her friends — negligence and serving alcohol to those underage.
The West Des Moines Police Department provided Local 5 will calls for service the past year. Officers only found two entries out of 41 calls that were related to serving people underage. One of the calls was brought to police by bouncers working for the establishment calling in fake IDs. The other was a passerby who reportedly saw a minor on the Wellman's rooftop.
Local 5 has reached out to the owners of Wellman's Pub and Patio for comment but has not received a response.
Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available. Download the We Are Iowa app or subscribe to Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter for the latest.