Collision at Orange car wash leads to suit against owner

ORANGE -- Instead of a clean car, an Orange man came home with a dented vehicle after being rear-ended by a car wash employee.

Alex Moses has filed suit against Wash Depot Holdings Inc., claiming he was hit from behind by a car wash employee who was not licensed to drive.

Moses' suit was filed in the Orange County District Court on Feb. 25.

According to the plaintiff's petition, on Nov. 16, 2006, Moses was sitting in his vehicle at Wash Depot waiting to have his vehicle washed "when suddenly and without warning his vehicle was rammed from the rear by a customer's truck driven by (Wash Depot employee) Jamie Grant."

The suit continues by saying it was Grant's job to drive customer's vehicles at the car wash, even though "he did not have a driver's license."

Grant is being charged with negligently failing to apply his brakes, keep a proper lookout and driving a vehicle without a license.

The suit goes on to say Wash Depot was negligent in its hiring of Grant and for allowing him to drive customer's vehicles.

"Plaintiff would further show that as a result of the negligence of Defendants, he was caused to incur hospital, doctor and medical expenses �," the suit said, adding that Moses is also suing for past and future mental anguish and lost wages.

In addition, Moses is suing for exemplary damages.

He is demanding a trial by jury and is represented by attorney Ernest Browne of the Browne & Browne law firm.

The case has been assigned to the 128th Judicial District.

Case No. A-080076-c