Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan and Walmart have agreed on a settlement over a 2014 New Jersey accident that critically injured Morgan and two other passengers and killed comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair.
Benedict Morelli, lawyer for Morgan, stated that he and Walmart's representatives have worked diligently to settle the lawsuit against Walmart for Morgan, the other plaintiffs Jeffrey Millea and Ardley Fuqua, and their respective families.
A resolution in a Newark federal court on May 27 refers to a closed settlement agreed to by both sides, but the details were kept confidential.
Walmart Stores Inc., whose headquarters are located in Bentonville, Ark., defined it as an "amicable settlement."
Morgan, the 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live star comedian, suffered several broken ribs, broken leg bones and a broken nose aside from the traumatic brain injury in the crash and has not been able to work since June 2014, according to Morelli.
In early March, Morelli stated that Morgan has not fully recovered but has been "working very hard to get better physically, emotionally and mentally."
The truck driver, Kevin Roper, a 35-year-old from Jonesboro, Ga., drove a Walmart truck into the back of a Mercedes limousine-van, which was transporting Morgan, McNair, Fuqua and Millea back from a show in Delaware in June last year.
According to the criminal complaint filed, Roper had been driving the truck for more than 24 hours without any sleep. Roper failed to slow down for the traffic ahead at a toll road in New Jersey and then swerved to evade a crash but instead the truck smashed into Morgan's limo van while driving at an estimated 65 mph, according to the initial investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board authorities. The speed limit on that stretch is 55 mph but had been reduced to 45 mph that evening due to construction near the turnpike.
The truck driver Roper faces many criminal charges, which include death by auto, in a state court. He has pleaded not guilty, although he was not a defendant in Morgan's federal lawsuit.
Last January, Walmart had reached a settlement with McNair's two children. McNair was a childhood pal of Morgan from Peekskill, N.Y., and has been a mentor and friend to him through the years.
Walmart had stated previously that the company has been cooperating with the victims of the crash toward settlements.
"Our thoughts continue to go out to everyone that was involved in the accident. While we know there is nothing that can change what happened, Walmart has been committed to doing what's right to help ensure the well-being of all of those who were impacted by the accident. We worked closely with Mr. Morelli, and we are pleased to have reached an amicable settlement that ends this litigation. We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved," stated Greg Foran, Walmart U.S. CEO and president.
Photo: David Shankbone | Flickr
