Parents Can Intervene in Beer Baron Snarl

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CN) - The wrongful death lawsuit against beer baron August Busch IV will include the parents of a woman who was found dead in Busch's mansion, after the Missouri Supreme Court refused Busch's request for reconsideration.

Adrienne Martin died of a drug overdose on Dec. 19, 2010 in Busch's mansion in St. Louis County.

Months later, Busch struck a tentative settlement with Martin's ex-husband, Dr. Kevin Martin, on behalf of the Martin's 9-year-old son.

Adrienne Martin's parents - Christine Trampler of Ozark, Mo., and George Eby of Springfield, Mo. - then tried to join the case, but the trial court barred them.

But an appellate court found that they had a right to join the case. The state supreme court on Tuesday refused Busch's request for reconsideration of the appellate court ruling.

The ruling gives Trampler and Eby greater control over legal strategy and the decision whether to accept the $1.5 million settlement offer. The case now returns to court in Cape Girardeau, where the son lives with his father.

Authorities found that Adrienne Martin died of an accidental overdose of oxycodone. She also had a high level of cocaine in her blood, and a hole in her nasal septum indicated prolonged cocaine use.

Busch, 47, took over as chief executive officer of Anheuser-Busch in 2006. His tenure ended in 2008 when InBev bought Anheuser-Busch.

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