Louisiana residents sue over rear-end collision

Four Louisiana residents have filed suit against the driver who they claim rear-ended them, causing them to sustain multiple injuries.

Renis Waters and Christopher Waters Sr. claim Renis Waters was driving a Ford F-150 truck south on Interstate Highway 10 South in Beaumont on Jan. 4, 2009, when he slowed his vehicle and came to a stop because of traffic in front of him. Suddenly, defendant Catherine Norris, who was also driving south, failed to control her speed and slammed into the back of his vehicle, according to the complaint filed Jan. 3 in Jefferson County District Court.

At the time of the collision, Christopher Waters Sr. and minors Christopher Waters Jr. and Catherine Norris were riding in the vehicle, the suit states.

Because of the accident, Renis Waters and Christopher Waters Sr. sustained injuries to their necks and backs and lost their earnings and earning capacities, the complaint says.
They claim they and the minor plaintiffs also incurred medical costs; experienced physical pain, suffering and physical impairment; and experienced disfigurement and mental anguish.

Catherine Norris negligently caused the collision by failing to keep a proper lookout, by failing to turn her vehicle to avoid a collision, by driving too fast and by failing to apply her brakes, according to the complaint.

The Waters also name Helen and Brandon Norris as defendants because they allowed Catherine Norris to borrow their vehicle, which was involved in the collision.

In their complaint, the Waters are seeking a judgment for damages within the jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, 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.

Robert A. Davee and R. Talmadge Hammock of Mills Shirley in Houston will be representing them.

The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.

Case No. D189-054