Court Reversal Names Bossier City Cab Company Owner Liable In Boy’s Death

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A state appeal court has reversed itself, ruling that a Bossier City taxi cab company owner can be held personally responsible for the death of a 12-year-old Stonewall boy allegedly killed by a cab driver.

The Times reports that the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that there is a legitimate legal question of whether Action Taxi owner David McFarlin can be held liable for hiring a driver whose license showed he was a sex offender. That driver is accused of killing Justin Bloxom in March 2010.

Friday's 3-2 decision sends the case back to DeSoto District Court Robert Burgess, who had dismissed McFarlin from a lawsuit filed by Justin's mother. No court date has been set because an appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court is expected.