An 18-year-old Phoenix high school graduate, Blake Barnes, has filed a lawsuit against the parents of a classmate after sustaining a concussion and a torn ear during a “senior skip day” party. The lawsuit alleges that homeowners Megan and Brandon Spencer allowed a massive gathering involving underage drinking at their Ahwatukee residence.
The Roof Jump and Resulting Injuries
The incident occurred when Barnes attempted a front flip into a swimming pool after jumping from the roof of the Spencers’ home. According to the lawsuit, the jump ended in disaster when Barnes struck his head on the pool deck.
My guy actually hit his head on the pool deck and sustained a concussion, tore his ear off. Fire and EMT personnel responded. He was unconscious, floating lifeless in the pool.
Brian Foster, Attorney for Blake Barnes
Barnes was transported to a local hospital for treatment following the accident. Attorney Brian Foster provided a video depicting the scale of the event, showing a crowded backyard with several attendees standing on the roof.
A video shared by the legal team shows the crowded conditions at the residence during the party:
Allegations of Negligence and Underage Drinking
The legal action centers on the claim that the Spencers were aware their 17-year-old son was hosting a “raging” party and failed to intervene. According to Foster, between 100 and 150 people attended the event.
The lawsuit further alleges that alcohol was not only present but encouraged. Foster cited a photo included in the legal filings that publicized the “senior ditch day” and explicitly instructed guests to “bring your own alcohol.”
Impact of Alcohol Consumption on the Case
A complicating factor in the litigation is the plaintiff’s own state of intoxication at the time of the injury. Hospital records indicate that Barnes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.114, a level that exceeds the legal limit for operating a vehicle.
When questioned by reporter Austin Walker regarding whether this detail damages the credibility of the argument or the suit itself, Foster acknowledged that the fact of his client’s underage drinking was “certainly not a great fact.”
