MORGANTOWN - A Maryland woman is seeking $50 million after the rented vehicle she was riding in wrecked, causing her to become permanently paralyzed.
Kimberly Lacey-Wilmoth of Baltimore, Md., filed a suit May 18 in Monongalia Circuit Court.
DaimlerChrysler Motors in Charleston, Enterprise Leasing Company of Baltimore and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company are named as defendants in the suit.
According to the lawsuit, Lacey-Wilmoth was riding in a 2006 Dodge Ram, rented from Enterprise, on April 7, 2006, with Craig Clark Keller. She was in the front passenger seat, wearing a lap and shoulder safety belt.
Keller was driving on I-68 West, following the 70 mph speed limit when the check engine light came on. Lacey-Wilmoth called Enterprise and was told the vehicle would be safe to operate. She was also told to take the truck to the nearest Enterprise facility in Morgantown.
"Suddenly and without warning," the truck stalled, the suit says. Keller lost control of the vehicle, and it went into the median and started to roll.
Lacey-Wilmoth claims the seatbelt failed, and she was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining serious, painful injuries, including paraplegia.
According to the suit, the Dodge Ram was defective and was not adequately inspected.
Lacey-Wilmoth, through attorney David B. Jackson, seeks $50 million in a four-count lawsuit.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number 07-C-329