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Injured couple in road mishap sue woman
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Posted on Nov 07 2004
An American tourist and his Korean wife sued a woman over a vehicular mishap that injured the couple—the man, seriously—who were riding on a scooter when the incident happened.
In a civil action filed with the U.S. District Court, David R. Mathieu and Ju Hyun Bae accused Vicenta Santos Lacanlale of recklessly driving a pickup truck, which allegedly caused the road accident on Beach Road, Garapan sometime last July.
The couple’s lawyer, David G. Banes, said in a complaint that Mathieu and Bae were riding on a rented scooter and were traveling southbound on Beach Road when the road accident happened.
Banes said Mathieu saw Lacanlale’s pickup truck at a stop off the southbound lane when the couple reached the Century Insurance Building area.
“As he [Mathieu] got closer to the pickup truck, he saw the truck enter the southbound lane suddenly and without warning. He pulled the brakes of the scooter and was unable to stop and as a result, the scooter struck the front left portion of the pickup truck,” Banes said.
“The front of the impact flung Mr. Mathieu and his wife from the scooter,” the lawyer added.
Banes said Mathieu was rushed to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment, but the tourist had to be flown to Korea for treatment and surgery due to the seriousness of his injuries.
To date, Mathieu has yet to fully recover from the injuries, according to Banes. Mathieu allegedly lost use of parts of his body and diminished his vigor.
The lawyer said Mathieu’s injuries have resulted in lost wages, future earnings, and earning capacity. He said Mathieu has been suffering from severe and permanent physical and mental pain and anguish.
“Mrs. Bae has lost the consort, comfort, companionship, society, affection, and support of her husband,” Banes said.
Banes accused Lacanlale of deliberate disregard and reckless indifference to the safety of others on the road, in violation of CNMI traffic laws. Lacanlale drove a Toyota Hilux with license plate ABH-609, which was registered to another person.
The couple asked the court for a jury trial, seeking monetary damages against Lacanlale. (John Ravelo)
