BRIDGEPORT — A Superior Court judge today ordered the former owners of the Barnum Duckpin Bowling lanes in Stratford and its former permittee to pay nearly $250,000 to a Milford man struck by a driver moments after she left the bowling alley's bar four years ago.

After a trial, Judge John Blawie found the former owners, Barnum Recreation Bowling Lanes and Bert Reich, as well as former bar permittee Edward McDonald, liable for the injuries suffered by James Cappello of Pumpkin Delight Road in Milford. The ruling cited the state's Dram Shop law, which holds bar owners liable for serving intoxicated patrons.

The judge ordered the three parties to pay Cappello $248.696.14.

The bowling alley was recently purchased by Bridgeport development firm, Peter DiNardo Enterprises. Cappello's lawyer, Edward Czepiga, said he doesn't know if the ownership change would affect the judge's verdict.

Barry Knott, who represents McDonald, said his client was not at the bowling lanes the day of the incidents and his share of the verdict will be covered by the former owners.

According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 26, 2004, Cappello was crossing Barnum Avenue on foot a short distance from the bowling alley when he was struck by a car driven by Llana Lowman of New Canaan. Cappello was knocked down, hitting the road surface head first. Czepiga said Lowman momentarily stopped her car right next to where Cappello was lying, looked at him and then took off at high speed. She never returned

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or reported the incident, he said.

An off-duty police officer managed to record Lowman's license plate number and she was later arrested.

A year after the accident, Lowman pleaded guilty to the criminal charge of evading responsibility and was sentenced to three years probation.

Cappello, who initially was left in a coma from the crash, suffered several permanent and serious injuries, Czepiga said.

During a trial before Blawie, witnesses testified Lowman had been drinking at the bar in the bowling alley for more than two hours before the crash. Lowman, however, testified she didn't recall hitting Cappello.

"Lowman's conduct, and the circumstances surrounding the injuries she inflicted on the plaintiff immediately upon leaving the Duckpin lounge and a mere 200 feet or so from its parking lot, warrant the inference that she was intoxicated at the time she was served," the judge ruled.