Tom Easterly
WINFIELD – The estate of a man who was running for Congress is being sued by the son of a woman who also was killed in the accident that claimed his life earlier this year.
Daniel Christopher Coalter has sued the estate of Tom Easterly, who had announced his candidacy for the U.S. Congress seat currently held by Nick Joe Rahall shortly before the June 15, 2005, accident on Interstate 64 in Putnam County that killed him and Linda E. Coalter, who was driving the other vehicle Easterly hit.
Coalter's son, Daniel Christopher Coalter, is suing Easterly's estate. The suit, filed Dec. 22 in Putnam Circuit Court, says Easterly's estate should not be divided among heirs until a damage determination has been made as to the value of this claim.
"Irreparable harm will be suffered should any distribution of assets be made from the Charles Thomas Easterly Estate," the suit says.
The suit says Easterly's will is pending after being submitted for probate in Raleigh County.
Easterly was a Beckley resident and had been a general life insurance agent with Globe Life & Accident Insurance Co. for 25 years but incorporated his own company in 1995. He also sold for United American Insurance Co.
Easterly served in the Kentucky State Senate for eight years in the 1970s. He also served in the Florida House of Representatives. He served in the Army in Vietnam, as well.
In his suit, Coalter says Easterly caused the accident and was responsible for the wrongful death of his mother, who lived in Culloden in Putnam County.
He is suing Easterly's estate by and through administrator Ronald P. Easterly, Tom Easterly Inc., Globe Life & Accident Insurance and United American Insurance. The last three entities are named as defendants because the suit claims Easterly was working when the accident occurred.
The suit, filed by Huntington attorney Kenneth P. Hicks, says Coalter, as the victim's only child, did and has suffered loss of love and affection, services, society, emotional and financial support and other related services.
The suit also says Linda Coalter, in addition to her death, suffered past loss of income and future earnings as well as other financial losses, including funeral and various other expenses.
In the suit, Daniel Christopher Coalter seeks judgment of an amount to fully and adequately compensate him for the injuries, damages and death as well as pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and other relief deemed just by the court.
He seeks a jury trial.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski.
Putnam Circuit Court case number: 05-C-509