Kania lawsuit amended, now includes former student's mother

7:00 p.m., Sept. 15: Shanice Beard, mother of Jahnice Beard, 6, — one of the three victims killed in the head-on collision on July 19 — filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Kania and his parents last month. 

Beard says in her lawsuit that Kania's actions were willful misconduct and that she is seeking punitive damages. 

She also alleges Kania's parents, Michael John Kania and Stephanie Borgard Kania, were negligent in allowing their son to drive the Jeep that they owned. 

Beard also includes He's Not Here and La Residence, the two Chapel Hill bars which served Kania on the night of the incident when he was under 21, as having negligent owners and is seeking punitive and compensatory damages from both. 

He's Not and La Residence were both sent notices of violation from the N.C. ABC Commission on Sept. 2 regarding the incident. 

6:45 p.m., Sept. 2: The mother of former UNC student Chandler Kania has been added to the lawsuit filed on behalf of Darlene McGee's family. McGee was one of the three killed in the fatal head-on collision on July 19. The lawsuit also accuses both Chapel Hill bars, He's Not Here and La Residence, of serving alcohol to Kania before the crash. 

Initially, the lawsuit named both Kania and his father, Michael Kania, as defendants but was amended Monday to add Kania's mother, Stephanie Borgard Kania, as a defendant. Since Chandler Kania is considered a dependent and his parents owned the Jeep involved in the collision, the lawsuit argues Michael and Stephanie Kania are liable. 

A manager of He's Not who declined to give his name had no comment. Randall Adams of Poyner Spruill is representing the bar and could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. 

Chandler Kania's next court appearance will be September 25 during the afternoon session in Orange County.

Aug. 26: Chandler Kania — the UNC junior charged with, among others, three counts of second-degree murder in July — had an additional charge added Friday.

According to court documents and search warrants, Kania was charged with obtaining alcohol with a false driver's license after it was revealed he bought alcohol at popular bars He's Not Here and La Residence. 

Kania is currently out on a $1 million bail. 

July 27: Charged with three counts of second-degree murder, UNC junior Chandler Kania was unsuccessful in his bid for reduced bail at his Orange County Courthouse general appearance today.

Kania was driving the wrong way down I-85 on July 19 when he collided with another car, killing three people and injuring a fourth. Kania was also charged with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, possessing an open container of alcohol, possession of alcohol by a person under age 21 and driving by a person less than 21 years old after consuming alcohol. 

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article28443979.html#storylink=cpy

Felecia Harris, 49, of Charlotte; Darlene McGee, 46, of Charlotte; and Jahnice Baird, 6, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were killed in the accident. 

Judge Charles Anderson denied the defendant's request to lower bail to $250,000 after an initial bail was set at $1 million on July 23.

Judge Anderson said he was open to discussions on bail reduction so that Kania could be treated at home under house arrest. Council will reconvene later in the day after discussions.  

Kania was represented by Roger Smith Jr. of Tharrington Smith law firm in Wake County, who requested the bail be set at $250,000 due to Kania's immobility. Kania is currently confined to a wheelchair after sustaining two broken feet from the accident. Smith also surrendered Kania's passport. 

The prosecutor said that Kania was a flight risk due to strong evidence against him and the possibility of 65 years in prison if convicted at the top of aggravated crimes. 

Kania is currently in jail and was not at the general appearance. 

Washington, D.C., resident Dakojo Oguntola, the first cousin of victim Darlene McGee, said he was at the appearance to ensure justice will be served. 

"There's no mystery that privileged people have a way of pushing things under the rug," he said. "There has to be accountability, and we choose to be here to make sure we have an eye on the situation — that in case family have an opportunity to speak up, then our voices can be heard because Darlene's voice cannot be heard." 

Kania's next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 10.