5/24/2007

Worst Lawsuit Ever?

One cannot help but feel for the family of St Louis Cardinals' pitcher Josh Hancock, who was killed when his car crashed into the back of a tow truck stopped to help a stalled motorist on the highway. One can feel sorrow for his family despite the fact that he was driving with BAC nearly twice the legal limit.

However, grief can sometimes make people do very, very, very dumb things. Like sue everyone in sight.
The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court by Dean Hancock of Tupelo, Miss., does not specify damages. Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is a defendant in the case along with Shannon's daughter, Patricia Shannon Van Matre, the restaurant manager.

Other defendants include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.
Now I can understand suing the restaurant, if they did in fact overserve him. But the tow truck driver and stalled motorist????

Hancock's suit had this to say about suing a stranded motorist for causing his son's death:
The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway, and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Not to be cruel, but if this is the threshold for a lawsuit, perhaps Hancock should sue himself for being negligent in not teaching his son not to drink and drive.

Ridiculous.

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