Man sues Putnam school board over bus accident

WINFIELD -- A Putnam County man has sued the county Board of Education over an auto accident that involved a school bus.

Larry J. Jackson filed his suit last month in Putnam Circuit Court against the Board, Superintendent Harold Hatfield and Davy L. Burdette, the driver of the bus.

On Jan. 31, 2006, Jackson says he was driving his vehicle near Winfield when Burdette's bus collided with him from the rear.

Jackson, through Hurricane attorney D. Scott Tyree, says the Board was negligent in hiring, training, supervising and retaining Burdette. He also says Burdette breached his duty by "negligently supervising the students in his charge and otherwise being negligent" while performing his driving duties.

Jackson says he has suffered personal injuries and other various and economic harm in amounts not yet fully realized. Those include current and permanent or future personal injury, past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, past and future aggravation, annoyance and inconvenience as well as the loss of ability to enjoy life.

He seeks joint and several compensatory damages for those injuries as well as attorney fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge O.C. "Hobby" Spaulding.

Putnam Circuit Court case number: 08-C-24