Groves woman files suit against two drivers over collision

A Groves woman has filed suit against the two drivers she says hit her vehicle.

Amber Lester claims she was driving east on 32nd Street in Port Arthur on Feb. 29, 2008, when defendant Andrew Odoms Jr., who was driving west, struck Lester's vehicle.

According to the complaint filed Feb. 10 in Jefferson County District Court, after Odoms' vehicle struck Lester's, it rotated counter-clockwise and struck her again, this time at the rear of Lester's vehicle.

After Odoms' vehicle came to a stop, defendant Armando Margil Soto, who was also driving west, then proceeded to strike Odoms' vehicle, the suit states.

"Defendant, Andrew Odoms, claims that Defendant, Armando Margil Soto, rear-ended his vehicle causing the initial collision with Plaintiff's automobile," the complaint says. "The collision and all injuries and damages resulting there from, were not caused by or contributed to by Plaintiff, nor did the same occur through any fault or negligence on the part of Plaintiff, but were caused by the acts, wrongs and/or omissions by the Defendants."

Because of the collision, Lester claims she incurred medical costs; experienced physical pain, suffering and physical impairment; and lost consortium. In addition, she lost parental consortium, lost household services, suffered property damages of $9,000, experienced mental anguish and fears a future disease, according to the complaint.

Odoms negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to turn his vehicle to the right to avoid a collision, drove in Lester's lane of traffic, failed to maintain a clear distance between his vehicle and Lester's, drove too fast and failed to timely apply his brakes, the suit states.

Soto also negligently failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to turn his vehicle to the right to avoid a collision, failed to keep a safe distance between his vehicle and Lester's, drove too fast, failed to apply his brakes and rear-ended Odoms, the complaint says.

In her complaint, Lester is seeking an unspecified judgment, plus pre-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law, post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Antoine L. Freeman of Port Arthur will be representing her.
The case has been assigned to Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: B185-887.