BLUEFIELD – A Nebraska company has settled a Raleigh County woman’s lawsuit against it over a 2009 car crash on the West Virginia Turnpike.
Sharon Gadd Newman filed suit against Werner Enterprises and Jesse Allen West, of Roanoke, Va., in Mercer County Circuit Court on March 23, 2011. She alleged West was driving a vehicle owned by Werner during their wreck.
Newman’s complaint said both were traveling south on Interstate-77 near Camp Creek in Mercer County when the wreck happened.
“(A)ccording to the State of West Virginia Uniform Traffic Crash Report submitted by Sergeant G.J. Cook of the West Virginia State Police, defendant Jesse Allen West attempted to move his tractor and trailer from the truck lane into the middle lane and did not see the vehicle operated by the plaintiff,” the suit says.
West collided with Newman’s vehicle as a result of his negligence, the complaint said. She suffered injuries to her neck, left shoulder, lower back and left knee, it added.
She also suffered pain and suffering; inconvenience; loss of earning capacity; loss of society, service and companionship; loss of the enjoyment of life; and emotional distress, Newman said.
Newman sought compensatory, general and punitive damages. A removal notice filed by Werner said the amount in controversy exceeded $75,000.
Her attorney was Anthony J. Sparacino of Beckley. The case was removed to U.S. District Court in Bluefield in 2011, and a jury trial was scheduled for Feb. 26, then pushed back to June.
On March 25, Judge David Faber placed the case on the inactive docket, noting a pending settlement.
Werner was represented by Dan Greear until Jan. 17, when he took a new job as chief counsel for the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office. He was working at Kesner Kesner & Bramble previously.
From the West Virginia Record: Reach John O’Brien at jobrienwv@gmail.com.
Woman settles Turnpike crash lawsuit
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