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Dalton, GA— Openings are expected early this week at trial against a tractor-trailer owner and a pickup driver over a rainy day, Georgia crash that cost a man his leg. Monroe v. Lane’s Equipment Rental, et al., 16-CI-833-J.
According to documents filed in the case, Donald Monroe was injured when a pickup driven by Greefus Patterson struck Monroe as the truck swerved to avoid a Lane’s Equipment Rental tractor-trailer driven by Daniel McGuffee.
Moments before the February 2016 crash, Monroe, who worked at a recycling company, had loaded the Lane’s truck with scrap metal. According to court documents, Monroe claims McGuffee pulled out onto the roadway without waiting for Monroe to act as a spotter, and without yielding to oncoming traffic.
Meanwhile, Monroe claims, Patterson did not sound his horn to warn of the impending crash, as its swerved off the roadway and struck Monroe and a nearby dumpster.
The crash, on South Dixie Highway, in Dalton, Georgia, forced the amputation of Monroe’s left leg below the knee and broke his right leg in six places.
Patterson claims Lane’s and McGuffee are at fault because the tractor-trailer driver failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and did not wait for Monroe’s assistance as a spotter.
McGuffee, according to court documents, contends he followed Monroe's directions when he pulled the big rig onto the roadway. Lane's claims Patterson caused the crash by driving too fast given the rainy conditions and his own poor eyesight.
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Monroe, represented by Law & Moran’s Pete Law, E. Michael Moran, and Patrick Wheale, is seeking more than $1.2 million in economic damages, as well as unspecified pain and suffering and punitive damages, according to court documents.
Stuart James, of The James Firm, and David Ward of Michel & Ward, both based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, represent McGuffee and Lane’s.
Carlock Copeland’s Brian Spitler and Angela Kopet represent Greefus Patterson, according to court records.
Trial in the case, before Whitfield County Superior Court Judge Scott Minter, is expected to last 3-4 days.
CVN will cover the trial gavel-to-gavel and provide updates via its news page.
Email Arlin Crisco at acrisco@cvn.com.
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