Pfleeger
Two St. John the Baptist Parish residents are accusing a truck driver of being overly tired while driving, causing him to run into the back of their car.
Vijoy and Susan Jacob filed suit against Landstar Ligon, Charles Moore and Ronnie Goins July 1 in federal court in New Orleans.
The two-car crash allegedly happened in September 2009 in Jefferson Parish. Vijoy Jacob says he was driving his 2007 Lexus on I-10 and was slowing for traffic when Ronnie Goins drove a tractor-trailer into the rear of his car. Jacob says the impact from the rear-end collision caused him to be injured.
Goins is accused of negligence for failing to maintain a proper lookout, failing to observe existing traffic conditions, failing to observe the Jacob vehicle in due time in order to avoid hitting it, failing to observe due caution, failing to maintain control of his truck, driving recklessly, rear-ending the Jacob vehicle, failing to be attentive, inattentiveness while driving and following too closely.
Goins' employer Landstar and/or Moore are accused of negligence and gross negligence for hiring an unqualified and/or reckless driver, failing to test to monitor their driver's safety orientation, failing to provide remedial training and defensive driving and for allowing their driver to operate a vehicle while the driver was experiencing sleep deprivation or cumulative fatigue.
Vijoy Jacobs is seeking more than $75,000 in damages for physical pain, suffering, discomfort, mental anguish, aggravation and annoyance, disability, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of use/function of body parts, bodily disability, impairment of psychological functioning, disability from reaction plus interest and court costs. Susan Jacobs is seeking damages for loss of consortium, companionship, society, friendship, damage to the marital relationship, grief, distress and mental anguish.
The plaintiffs are represented by Michael Hingle and Bryan Pfleeger of Michael Hingle & Associates in Hammond.
U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:10cv01889