Couple sues after garbage truck hits their vehicle

Two Jefferson Parish residents have filed a personal injury lawsuit against a Louisiana company accusing the company of negligently entrusting a garbage truck to a driver that crashed into their vehicle.

Leroy Brown and Leontine Brown filed suit against Arch Insurance Co., IESI LA Corp. and IESI LA Landfill Corp. on Sept. 14 in federal court in New Orleans.

The accident occurred on June 23 in St. Charles Parish as Leroy Brown was driving a 2001 Chevrolet truck and was stopped at a red light on the I-310 off ramp. Brown states he was rear-ended by a commercial garbage truck driven by Reggie Baker.

The impact caused Brown's vehicle to be forced into traffic, hitting another vehicle and causing Brown to be thrown about in his truck, the lawsuit claims.

As the employer of Reggie Baker, defendants ISEI LA Corp and IESI LA Landfill are accused of negligently and carelessly failing to select, train and supervise Baker, negligently allowing an unqualified or reckless driver to remain on the road, failing to screen and test their driver, failing to develop and implement safety policies and failing to provide safety and defensive driving training or remedial training for their driver.

The plaintiffs are asking for more than $75,000 in damages for physical pain, suffering and discomfort, mental anguish, aggravation and annoyance, disability, medical expenses, loss of use of vehicle, sales tax, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of use and function of parts of body, impairment of psychological functioning, loss of income, loss of earning capacity and disability from engaging in recreation.

The plaintiffs are represented by Raynique Keelen-Williams of Michael Hingle & Associates in Hammond.

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:10cv03051