Lawsuit in Sherman Truck Crash Settled, Attorney Says
12:53 AM CDT on Monday, October 15, 2007
The Associated Press
SHERMAN, Texas – Relatives of some of the 10 people killed and two others injured when a tractor-trailer slammed into oncoming traffic in 2004 have settled their suit against the driver and owners of the rig, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs said Sunday.
Attorney Dean Gresham said that while the amount of the settlement is confidential, it ends all civil litigation stemming from the grisly crash in which an 18-wheeler crossed the median of a busy North Texas highway and plowed into two cars.
"We think it's in the best interest of the families to move on with their lives and not relive the tragedy through the trial," Gresham said.
The settlement was reached as jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday in
U.S. District Court. Instead, Gresham said the settlement would be formally
announced Monday.
The original lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of
Manuel Esparza, who was among seven roofers in a pickup truck nearly torn in
half by the 18-wheeler, had sought $75 million in damages.
Phone calls Sunday night to attorneys for the truck driver, Polish immigrant
Miroslaw Janusz Jozwiak, and the owners of the rig weren't immediately
returned.
Jozwiak was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year after
pleading guilty to 10 counts of manslaughter.
On Sept. 24, 2004, Jozwiak's truck crossed a median on U.S. Highway 75 and plowed into a sport utility vehicle and a pickup. Five people in the truck were killed. The victims in the SUV included a McKinney mother, her three young children and their grandmother.