(http://www.southtownstar.com/news/2031095,020510wrongfuldeath.article)
The family of a 19-year-old Homer Glen man killed in a Dec. 11 crash has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man accused of driving drunk and causing the crash.
Kevin Benes' family is seeking $50,000 or more in its lawsuit against Michael Bourdage, said Scott McKenna, the family's attorney.
Bourdage, 24, of Homer Glen, has been indicted on two counts of aggravated drunken driving in the crash, in which his truck slammed into Benes' car near the 143rd Street off ramp from Interstate 355 in Lockport.
"Obviously, (parents) Frank and Marilyn (Benes) want to make sure that justice is done," McKenna said. "The bottom line is, Mr. Bourdage needs to be held responsible for what he did."
Bourdage has been free on $50,000 bail since Jan. 28. His attorney, George Gatses, said his client is now seeking psychological treatment because of the crash and is receiving drug and alcohol abuse treatment.
"All I know is, the boy needs help," Gatses said.
He said he had not seen the lawsuit as of Thursday but had "assumed it was coming."
Bourdage has pleaded guilty to more than a dozen traffic, drug and alcohol offenses in Will County, including a drunken driving charge in 2007.
His driver's license is suspended until 2013 because he refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test after December's fatal crash, according to the Illinois secretary of state's office.
