HUNTINGTON -- A Staffordsville, Ky., couple is suing Express Printing over a car accident they say was caused by a drunk employee.
Jay Stone, Sara Stone, Kay Stone, John Rowsey and Sentry Select Insurance Company were also named as defendants in the suit.
On May 10, 2011, Rowsey was driving on Hal Greer Boulevard in Huntington in a white Dodge Ram van owned by Express Printing and was driving in a reckless manner, illegally driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and was driving on the wrong side of the road when he collided with a 2001 Volkswagen Passat operated by Patrick Joseph Shaffer, causing Shaffer's vehicle to collide with a vehicle in which Rhonda Little was a passenger, according to a complaint filed June 19 in Cabell Circuit Court.
Little claims Rowsey had a blood alcohol level in excess of the state legal limit and he was cited by the Huntington Police Department for reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, being impaired while operating a vehicle, driving in a careless manner and failing to maintain control of his vehicle.
As a result of Rowsey's recklessness and negligent misconduct, Little suffered severe and permanent injuries and suffered more than $15,000 in medical bills as a result of her multiple injuries, according to the suit.
Little claims Jay Stone, Sara Stone and Kay Stone knew or should have known that Rowsey was a convicted felon and had drug and alcohol problems and was significantly impaired on multiple occasions.
The Stone defendants were acting as officers and directors of Express Printing when they negligently, recklessly and intentionally hired Rowsey; retained Rowsey's employment' and failed to properly supervise, train and monitor Rowsey, according to the suit.
Little and her husband, John Little, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by J. Kristopher Cormany.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 12-C-396
Ky. couple says drunk Express Printing employee caused accident
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