Texas City woman seeks $5M from alleged drunk driver

GALVESTON - Alleging she was involved in a two-vehicle accident with a drunk driver last month, Texas City resident Raquel Edwards has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the motorist.

Edwards alleges Galveston resident Joe Stanfield was intoxicated when his vehicle rear-ended hers on Sept. 12, a lawsuit filed Oct. 3 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 says.

Court papers say the plaintiff suffered injuries to her neck and back as a result of the collision in question.

"The defendant was intoxicated while operating his motor vehicle, failing to: keep a lookout, maintain a safe distance, avoid impact, control speed, properly change lanes, use brakes, which caused an impact with the plaintiff and resulted in her injuries," the original petition says.

The suit ultimately asserts that Stanfield "had actual, subjective awareness of the risk involved....., and nevertheless, continued with conscious indifference to the rights, safety or welfare of the plaintiff and others, and he did so during the commission of a crime."

Consequently, Edwards sues for physical pain and suffering, physical impairment and disfigurement, mental anguish and losses of consortium, mental function and household services.

Attorney Bret Griffin of Friendswood is representing the complainant, and Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Christopher Dupuy is presiding over the case.

Cause No. 66,127