Suit says driver struck vehicle stopped in road

A man sustained severe injuries after striking a vehicle left in the middle of the road, according to recently filed court documents.

Terry Thompson filed a lawsuit April 4 in Jefferson County District Court against Easy Ed and Joseph Ronald Duplechain.

In his complaint, Thompson claims he traveled on an unspecified street in Texas when he encountered a 2005 maroon Hyundai Elantra which Duplechain had stopped in the middle of the road.

Because Duplechain failed to use proper illumination devices to warn of his stopped vehicle, Thompson struck the car, according to the complaint.

Thompson lost earnings and earning capacity, experienced pain and suffering, incurred medical costs, suffered physical impairment and physical disfigurement and lost his ability to enjoy life because of the accident, the suit states.

He blames Duplechain for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to use proper illumination to warn of a stopped vehicle, failed to pull the vehicle off the road, failed to use hazard lights and stopped the vehicle in the road.

In addition to Duplechain, Thompson names Easy Ed as a defendant. Easy Ed owned the Hyundai which Duplechain drove at the time of the collision, according to the complaint.

In his complaint, Thompson seeks a judgment in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, property damages, court costs and other relief the court deems just.

J. Trenton Bond and Chris Portner of Portner Bond in Beaumont will be representing him.

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

Case No. D189-709