Parents suing drug dealers over teens' overdose deaths

CHICAGO -- Parents of two suburban Chicago teen-agers who died two years ago after overdosing on drugs are suing the people who sold them the drugs.

The parents have based their lawsuits on the 1996 Illinois Drug Dealer Civil Liability Act that allows victims to hold drug dealers just as accountable for injuries as manufacturers who produce defective products.

Until now, the law has not been applied in Illinois. Fourteen other states have similar laws in place.

"The main reason they are bringing this forth is to have their day in court," said attorney John Kreamer, who is representing the two families. "Hopefully, this suit will serve as a deterrent to anyone participating in illegal drugs."

Sara Aeschlimann, 18, of Naperville, died in May 2000 after a dealer slipped amphetamine into her drink.

Steven Lorenz, 17, died a week earlier after he mistakenly took a lethal dose of amphetamine that he thought was the drug Ecstasy. He died in his McHenry apartment.

Last year, Steven Jergensen, 22, of Round Lake Beach was sentenced to four years in prison for selling the impostor drug to Lorenz.