Tracy Morgan Settles Lawsuit With Walmart Over Fatal Crash
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan has settled his lawsuit against Walmart over a highway crash that killed one man and left Morgan and two friends seriously injured.
A filing in federal court in Newark on Wednesday refers to a confidential settlement reached by the two sides.
"I am grateful that the case was resolved amicably," Morgan said in a statement, according to Time.
Tracy Morgan Settles Lawsuit With Walmart Over Fatal Crash
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. called it an "amicable settlement." Details weren't disclosed.
The Walmart truck slammed into the back of a limo van carrying Morgan and the others back from a show in Delaware last June. Comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair was killed. Morgan suffered head trauma, a broken leg and broken ribs.
Walmart reached a $10 million settlement with McNair's two children in January.
The truck driver, Kevin Roper, of Jonesboro, Georgia, faces several criminal charges, including death by auto. He has pleaded not guilty. He wasn't a defendant in Morgan's federal lawsuit.
Morgan, who starred on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock," suffered what his lawyer, Benedict Morelli, has referred to as a traumatic brain injury. Morelli said in March that Morgan wasn't fully recovered but was "working very hard to get better, physically, emotionally and mentally."
Morgan had hoped to attend the 40th anniversary show of "Saturday Night Live" in February but was unable to.
Limo van passengers Ardie Fuqua, of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Jeffrey Millea, of Shelton, Connecticut, also suffered serious injuries in the crash and were plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Walmart.
The legal battle between the comedian and Walmart turned ugly at times.
At one point, Walmart claimed in a legal filing that Morgan and his fellow passengers were partially to blame for their injuries because they were not wearing seatbelts.
Morgan made a rare post-crash public appearance in September to fire back at the retail giant, telling reporters: "I can't believe Walmart is blaming me for an accident that they caused. My friends and I were doing nothing wrong."
According to the criminal complaint, Roper was operating the truck without having slept for more than 24 hours.
A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board estimated that Roper was driving 65 mph in the minute before he slammed into Morgan's limo van on the New Jersey Turnpike. The speed limit on that stretch of the turnpike is 55 mph and was lowered to 45 mph that night because of construction.
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